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HISTORICAL     SKETCH 


OF    THE 


First  Presbyterian  Cliurcli 


OF 


VICTOR,    N.  Y. 


^Including    an    Introductory    Sketch    of    Victor    and  its   Early 

History  and  an  Appendix  with  Rolls  op  Ministers, 

Oppicers  and  Church  Members;  some  Important 

Documents  ;  a  Roll  op  the  Sabbath  School 

in  1888;  the  Statute    and   Church 

Laws    Governing     this 

Organ/zation. 


BY 

Rev.     CLARKNCE;    W.    BACK.US, 
The    Pastor. 


July  2,  1888. 


NOTE. 

I  am  indebted  to  the  following  sources  for  viucJi  of  the 
historical  viatter  in  these  sketches. 

Turner  s  Phelps  and  GorJiani  Purchase. 

Rev.  James  H.  Hotchkin  s  History  of  the  purchase  and 
settlement  of  Western  Neiv  York  and  the  Rise,  Progress  and 
present  state  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  section. 

Documentary  History. 

IV.  H.  Mc/n tosh's  History  of  Ontario  County. 

Records  of  t lie  Presbyterian  CJinrchof  Victor,  from  1788 
to  the  present  time. 

"  Half  Ce?itury  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ontario.  " 

"  Half  Century  of  the  Presbytery  of  Rochester. " 


So  far  as  practicable  I  have  aimed  to  compile  from  estab- 
lished records  and  history  as  thereby  enhancing  the  historical 
value  of  these  sketches.  Everything  is  carefully  substantiated 
from  the  various  sources  of  information. 


CONTENTS. 


I  PAtJE. 

Victor  and  tho  Senecas,        -  -  -  -  -  .5 

II 
The  Town  of  Victor,  Formation  -  -  -  -  -     10 

III 
Cliurch  Organization,  Victor,  .....  14 

IV 
Organization  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Victor,  -  -    18 

V 
Church  Erection,  .......        22 

VI 
Presbyterial  Connections,        ......        30 

VII 
General  Outhne  of  church  Records  inchiding  sketches  of  the  sev- 
eral Pastors,    -  -  -  ....         30 


APPENDIX. 


A 

Documents  connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  church,       -        6T 

B 
Roll  of   Pastors,   and   Rolls  of    Deacons,   Elders,  Trustees,    and 

the  present  officers,       ......        79 

C 
Roll  of  Members  from  the  organization  of  the  church  in  1799      -     83 

D 
Sabbath  School  roll,  18SS,     -  -  .  -  -  -  103 

E 
Civil  and  church  law,        .......      110 

F 
Fk^elesiastical  ('ouncils  and  Piilitit  supplies  -  .  -  121 


ROCHESTER.  N.  Y. 
J.  A.  Gillies,  Print,  73  East  Main  Street, 

1888. 


VICTOR  AND  THE  SENEGAS. 


DeNonville's  Encounter  with  the  Red  Men, 
Two  Hundred  Years  Ago. 

VICTOR  was  originally  in  the  possession  of  the  Seneca 
Indians,  a  branch  of  the  war-like  Iroquois.  The  prin- 
cipal village  was  on  what  is  now  called  Boughton  Hill,  and 
largely  on  the  farms  owned  by  Robert  Bruce  Moore  and 
Baldwin  Green.  DeNonville,  the  French  General,  calls  this 
village  Ga-os-saeh-gwa.  It  was  "the  famous  Babylon  of  the 
Tsonnon-tousans,  (Senecas)  *  *  *  situated  at  the  top  of 
a  mountain  of  earth,  to  which  one  rises  by  three  terraces 
or  hills." 

It  is  claimed  that  Father  Chaumonot,  a  Jesuit  Father, 
from  a  missionary  station  at  St.  Marie,  on  the  river  Severn, 
near  lake  Huron,  was  the  first  white  man  who  visited  this 
village  of  the  Senecas,  and  that  his  visit  occured  in  the 
fall  of  1656  It  is  known  that  as  early  as  1640,  he  and 
Father  Brebeauf  were  at  Niagara  beginning  such  missionary 
work.  It  is  also  claimed  that  in  November  of  1668  the 
Senecas  sent  to  Montreal,  requesting  the  Jesuits  there 
to  send  them  missionaries,  and  that  in  compliance  with  this 
request.  Father  Garnier  established  a  mission  on  Boughton 
Hill,  called  St.  James.     There  is  also  evidence  that  LaSalle, 


that  distinguished  and  indomitable  young  French  adven- 
turer and  founder  of  Frontenac  (now  Kingston),  visited  this 
village  of  the  Senecas  as  early  as  August  or  September  of 
1669. 

At  Victor  is  also  located  the  battle  ground  of  DeNon- 
ville  with  the  Senecas.  (For  the  authentic  account  of 
the  battle  see  Turner's  "  DeNonviile's  invasion  of  the 
Genesee  Country,  page  465,  Phelps  Purchase.")  Landing 
his  forces  at  Irondequoit  Bay,  July  loth,  1687,  he  followed 
the  old  Indian  trail,  leading  from  that  point  to  the  foot  of 
Canandaigua  Lake,  until  he  came  to  the  hill  back  of  Victor, 
the  plateau  now  owned  by  the  Dryers,  and  where  the  old 
church  stood.  There  are  those  who  clairn  that  the  ambus- 
cade was  further  west  than  this,  nearer  where  the  pres- 
ent Pittsford  road  enters  the  village.  But  this  does  not 
satisfy  the  conditions  of  the  authentic  accounts.  The  Pitts- 
ford  road  at  that  point  is  made  from  the  side  hill,  and  the 
gully  originally  there,  was  hardly  more  than  a  ditch,  and 
not  on  the  Canandaigua  Lake  trail,  which  went  back  of  ihe 
Ladd  house  and  across  the  Dryer  farm.  While  the  gully 
near  Wm.  C.  Dryer's  is  wanting,  in  that  there  was  no  stream 
running  through  it.  The  Chief  Brant  pointed  out  this  defect 
in  the  map.  The  trail  DeNonville  is  described  as  follow- 
ing, after  crossing  the  Dryer  plateau,  lead  east  back  of  the  pres- 
ent stores,  to  the  Smith  Jones  spring  that  now  supplies  most 
of  the  village  with  water,  thence  to  the  three  forks,  and 
from  there  towards  Sidell's  to  the  spring  about  a  mile 
east  of  Boughton  Hill,  and  on  the  foot  of  the  Lake. 
Coming  down  on  this  trail  from  the  north  to  the  brook  run- 
ning under  Main  street  near  Mr.  Heath's  drug  store,  a  trail 
would  naturally  branch  off  from  the  main  one  to  Boughton 
Hill.  With  this  view  agrees  the  account  of  the  French 
Jesuit  priest  present  at  the  battle.  His  name  is  L'Abbe  de 
Belmont,  In  the  course  of  his  description  he  says,  "  the 
village  is  upon  a  high  hill  which  is  surrounded  by  three 
little  hills  or  terraces  at  the  foot  of  a  valley,  and  opposite 


some  other  hills,  between  which  passes  a  large  brook,  which 
in  a  little  valley  makes  a  little  marsh  covered  with  alders. 
This  is  the  place  which  they  selected  for  their  ambuscade. 
They  divided  themselves,  posted  300  men  along  the  fall- 
ing brook  between  the  two  hills  in  a  great  thicket  of  beech 
trees."  Standing  on  the  Dryer  plateau  back  of  Mr.  Truman 
Dryer's  house,  this  is  the  very  scene  before  you.  Beyond, 
across  the  valley,  is  Boughton  hill,  answering  to  the  high 
hill  surrounded  by  three  terraces.  In  the  valley  below  is 
the  brook  running  eastward  through  theCovill  marsh  lands, 
and  beyond  toward  the  south-east,  on  the  Covill  farm,  what 
is  left  of  the  beech  thicket  described,  and  which  then  covered 
the  ground  about  the  brook  running  across  Main  Street. 
It  should  be  remembered  that  at  the  time  of  the  fight  the 
slopes  from  above  into  the  valley  were  steep  and  heavily 
wooded  and  that  the  swamp  ^ below  was  a  sort  of  jungle. 
The  "  height  of  the  hill  "  occupied  by  DeNonville  and  to 
which  the  fleeing  advance  guard  were  driven,  can  be  no 
other  than  the  Dryer  plateau.  There  raged  the  last  of  the 
conflict,  until  the  beating  of  the  drums  and  rallying  of  the 
French  "  frightened  the  300  Tsonnontousans  of  the  ambus- 
cade, who  fled  from  above  to  the  500  that  were  ambushed 
below."  Upon  this  plateau  have  been  found  relics  of  the 
battle. 

To  this  plateau,  following  the  Indian  trail,  came  the 
advanced  guard  of  DeNonville's  army,  and  defiled  into 
the  little  valley,  and  along  the  brook,  back  of  the  Corn- 
ford  Foundry.  When  .they  had  passed  by  the  beeches, 
and  came  upon  the  brook  running  through  the  valle}'  they 
were  startled  and  thrown  into  confusion  by  the  "  terrible 
whoop "  and  "volley"  from  the  Sfcnecas  concealed  in  the 
thicket  on  the  bank  of  the  falling  brook,  down  which 
the  advance  had  passed.  Part  fled  back  at  once,  the  others 
fired  two  volleys  and  then  made  a  precipitate  retreat,  followed 
closely  by  the  Senecas.  Up  over  the  present  business  part 
of  the  village  the  battle  raged  until  the  heig-hts  above  were 


gained ;  here  DeNonville  and  the  main  body  were  met 
hastening  to  the  scene  of  carnage.  Here  the  Senecas  made 
one  last  desperate  assault.  DeNonville  ordered  the  drums 
to  beat.  The  Senecas,  startled  by  the  sound,  gave 
way  and  tied  to  the  500  below.  Thus  ended  this  mem- 
orable fight.  Here  the  French  priest  continues  his  narra- 
tive as  follows  :  "A  council  was  held.  It  was  resolved,  as 
it  was  late,  to  sleep  on  the  field  of  battle  for  camp."  (On 
the  Dryer  plateau,  the  last  scene  of  the  engagement.)  "On 
the  morrow  we  marched  in  battle  order,  waiting  for  an 
attack.  We  descended  the  hill  by  a  little  sloping  valley  or 
gorge,  through  zvhicJi  ran  a  brook  bordered  zvith  thick  bushes,'^ 
(an  exact  description  of  that  back  of  Cornford's  Foundry) 
and  which  discharges  itself  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  in  a  marsh 
full  of  deep  mud,"  (that  back  of  the  Lewis  place)  "but 
planted  with  alders  so  thick  that  one  could  scarcely  see. 
There  it  was  that  they  had  stationed  their  two  ambuscades 
and  where,  perhaps  we  would  have  been  defeated,  if  they 
had  not  mistaken  our  advance  guards  for  the  whole  army 
and  been  so  hasty  in  firing. 

Encamped  above,  and  in  the  morning  drawn  up  in 
battle  array,  with  his  left  resting  on  the  edge  of  the  little 
sloping  valley.  DeNonville  would  not  have  marched  his 
army  by  right  flank,  across  the  ravines  to  the  present  Pittsford 
road,  when  by  a  left  flank  movement  he  could  far  better  defile, 
as  he  did,  down  through  the  little  sloping  valley  back  of  the 
Foundry.  I  have  carefully  examined  the  high  ground  north 
of  the  village,  both  eastward  and  westward,  and  the  little 
sloping  valley  back  of  the  Foundry  is  the  only  one  that 
answers  to  the  French  Priest's  description,  or  from  the 
natural  conformation  of  the  ground,  could  have  answered 
to  it,  before  the  present  Pittsford  road  was  made.  A  careful 
examination  will  show  that  the  latter  point  cannot  well  be 
mistaken  for  die  French  Priest's  little  sloping  valley  back 
of  the  furnace.  An  historian  speaks  of  the  descent  to  the 
valley  being  "near  the  Pittsford  road."  It  was  near  it  but 
not  at    or   through    it.     The    valley    back   of  the     furnace 


approaches  it  on  the  northwest,  and  formerly  the  Pittsford 
road  entered  the  village  near  Gallup's  store.  DeNonville 
had  with  him  about  800  Indians,  four  batallions  of  regulars 
and  four  of  militia,  while  the  Senecas  had  300  in  ambush 
west  of  the  falling  brook,  running  through  the  village,  and 
500  in  ambush  over  towards  the  railroad. 


II, 

THE     TOV\^N     OF     VICTOR.— 
V/HEN    FORMED. 


The    Presbyterian    Church   in    Victor    the    Fifth 

Oldest  Church  Organization  in 

Western  New  York. 

THAT  part  of  New  York  State  lying  west  of  a  meridian 
drawn  through  Seneca  Lake,  and  formerly  known  as 
the  Genesee  Country,  "(Pleasant  V^alley)"  was,  when  settled 
a  part  of  Massachusetts,  and  inhabited  by  the  Seneca  Indians, 
a  branch  of  the  "  Five  Nations,"  afterwards  known  as  the 
"Six  Nations"  when  joined  by  the  Tuscororas  from  North 
Carolina. 

Soon  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  on  October 
22,  1784,  the  United  States  concluded  a  treaty  of  perpetual 
peace  and  amity  with  the  Six  Nations.  This  opened  the 
way  to  the  settlement  of  Western  New  York. 

"The  Genesee  Country,"  west  of  Seneca  Lake,  and 
comprising  about  six  million  acres,  was  in  1787  contracted 
to  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham  for  $100,000.  Mr. 
Phelps  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  both  he  and  Mr. 
Gorham  were  at  the  time  of  the  purchase  residents  of  Mass- 
achusetts. This  accounts  for  the  New  England  complexion 
given  to  the  early  settlements  of  this  part  of  the  state,  both 
religiously  and  otherwise.  These  two  gentlemen  bought 
of  Massachusetts  the  pre-emptive  right  to  this  territory  of 


1 1 


Western  New  York. — That  is,  the  right  or  privilege  of  se- 
lection and  purchase  before  all  others.  Having  secured 
this  right  they  proceeded  at  once  to  extinguish,  by  pur- 
chase from  the  Indians,  their  title  to  the  same.  This  was 
accomplished  as  far  as  the  Genesee  River,  July  8,  1788,  when 
Messers.  Phelps  and  Gorham  bought  and  paid  for  more  than 
two  million  acres  of  land,  embracing  the  territory  between 
Seneca  Lake  and  the  Genesee  river  on  the  east  and  west  and 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  Lake  Ontario  on  the  south 
and  north.  The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  confirmed  to 
them  this  purchase  on  November  21,  1788.  These  owners 
then  surveyed  this  tract,  dividing  it  into  "'ranges"  by  lines 
running  north  and  south  and  six  miles  apart.  These 
"ranges"  were  numbered  from  east  to  west.  (Victor  lies  in 
the  fourth  range.) 

These  "  ranges"  were  then  sub-divided  into  townships 
by  lines  running  east  and  west  and  six  miles  apart,  making 
a  township  to  consist  of  sixmiles  square,  and  numbered  from 
south  to  north.  (Victor  is  the  iith  township  in  the  4th 
range.) 

The  townships  were  then  divided  into  farms  or  lots  of 
160  acres  each,  and  in  this  form  sold. 

Formerly,  Ontario  County  was  co-extensive  with  "  the 
Genesee  country,"  but  was  subsequently  restricted  to  its 
present  limits.  The  town  of  Victor  was  formerly  a  part  of 
Bloomfield,  and  was  setoff  therefrom  in  1812,  and  organized 
April  6,  1813,  in  the  "  Presbyterian  Meeting-house"  which 
at  that  time  stood  on  the  hill  back  of  Mr.  Gallup's  store. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  came  from  New  England  ; 
from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

In  1788  Peter  ShafTer  settled  at  Scottsville.  At  that 
time  only  four  or  five  white  families  lived  on  the  road  be- 
tween Scottsville  and  Utica. 

Enos  and  Jared  Boughton  were  the  first  settlers  in  the 
town  of  Victor,  Jared  Boughton,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
was  born  in  February    19,   1766.     Subsequently  the  change 


12 


of  a  disputed  State  boundary  line  brought  the  place  of  his 
birth  within  New  York  State. 

In  1787  he  married  Oliv^e  Stone,  of  Stockbridge,  Mass, 
and  moved  his  residence  there.  Jared  and  Enos  Boughton 
visited  Victor  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1788,  and  having  se- 
lected the  iith  township  in  the  4th  range  as  a  desirable  lo- 
cation, purchased  it  that  fall,  of  Messrs.  Phelps  and  Gorham, 
for  twenty  cents  per  acre.  The  purchase  was  made  in 
behalf  of  their  father  Hezekiah  and  was  intended  for  a 
family  posession. 

In  the  Spring  of  1789,  Enos,  Jared  and  Hezekiah,  Jr. 
three  brothers,  together  with  their  uncle  Levi  Boughton 
and  Jacob  Lobdell,  returned  to  Victor,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer built  a  log  cabin,  and  sowed  some  wheat  and  buckwheat. 
As  they  had  brought  some  fourteen  head  of  cattle  with 
them,  it  was  necessary  to  leave  some  one  in  charge.  This 
duty  devolved  upon  Jacob  Lobdell,  a  young  man  about 
eighteen  years  old.  Lobdell  boarded  during  the  winter 
with  Elijah  Rose,  who  lived  three  miles  away  in  the  town 
of  Bloomfield.     The  others  of  the  party  returned  East, 

February  19,  1790,  Jared  Boughton,  and  his  wife,  and 
a  two-year-old  son  Selleck,and  infant  daughter  Melania,  six 
months  old.  accompanied  by  Jared's  youngest  brother  Sey- 
niour  Boughton,  left  Stockbridge  for  their  new  Western 
home,  where  they  arrived  March  7,  1790,  after  a  journey 
fraught  with  unusual  hardships  and  dangers. 

Subsequently,  in  October,  1790,  Jared's  father  arrived 
with  his  family  and  the  families  of  his  married  sons.  Hez- 
ekiah Jr.,  died  on  his  way  from  the  East,  but  his  family  con- 
tinued their  journey  to  the  end  Col.  Claudius  Victor 
Boughton.  a  son  of  Hezekiah  Jr.,  gave  to  Victor  its  name. 
The  town  voted  this  as  a  reward  for  "gallant  services  upon 
the  Niagara  frontier"  in  the  war  of  1812,  to  "which  the 
Legislature  of  New  York  added  the  presentation  of  a  sword.  " 
Among  the  sons  of  Jared  Boughton  were  Selleck,  an  attor- 
ney in   Rochester;  Frederick,  of  Pittsford  ;  (the  first  white 


13 

child  born  in  Victor,  born  June  i,  1791),  Jared  H.,  of  Victor; 
Enos,  of  East  Bloomf^eld  ;  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  G.  Smith,  of  New 
York  :  Mrs.  Bennett  Lewis,  of  Green  County,  Ohio,  and 
Mrs.  Mortimer  Buel,  of  Geneseo. 

In  July,  1790,  an  of^cial  census,  taken  by  General  Amos 
Hall,  showed  four  families  and  twenty  persons  in  the  town 
of  Victor. 

I  have  thus  particularly  mentioned  the  family  of  Jared 
Boughton,  because  they  were  in  fact  the  first  settlers  of  the 
town,  and  identified  with  all  its  interests  and  early  growth. 
Jared  Boughton  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  its  incorporation  September 
13,  1798.  In  fact  all  the  early  settlers,  at  all  religiously 
inclined,  were  identified  with  this  church  organization.  It 
was  the  only  religious  organization  in  the  community  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  the  fifth  oldest  church  organization 
in  Western  New  York. 

It  is  not  the  intention  to  go  over  ground  so  well 
written  up  in  the  past,  as  the  above  ;  but  merely  to  introduce 
the  history  of  a  church  that  began  with  and  has  grown  up 
as  a  part  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of  Victor  and  so 
largely  determined  its  religious  character.  This  church  is 
one  of  the  old  land-marks  in  the  history  of  Western  New 
York,  and  its  integrity,  stability  and  history  should  be 
maintained  as  the  heritage  of  Christian  forefathers  who  gave 
to  Victor  its  early  existence,  and  established  its  leading 
relieious  influence. 


III. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZATION  — VICTOR. 


IT  has  been  seen  that  the  early  settlers  of  Victor  were 
largely  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  or  near 
their  borders  in  Eastern  New  York  State. 

The  scattered  character  of  these  early  settlements  re- 
tarded somewhat  the  organization  of  religious  societies,  and 
wh^n  such  were  organized,  determined  them,  largely,  as 
Congregational  or  Presbyterian. 

The  following  from  the  history  by  Rev.  James  H. 
Hotchkin  who  was  preaching  in  West  Bloomneld  as  early  as 
i8oi,  is  quoted  in  substantiation  of  the  above  statement. 
(see  p.  27.)  "  For  some  years  after  the  settlement  of  the 
country  commenced,  no  minister  of  the  gospel,  of  the 
Presbyterian  or  Congregational  denominations  resided 
within  its  boundaries,  nor  was  any  church  of  these  denomi- 
nations organized.  Whether  any  ministers  or  churches  of 
other  denominations  were  in  existence  on  this  field  is  not 
known  to  the  writer." 

Undoubtedly  if  there  were  any  such,  Mr.  Hotchkin, 
himself  on  the  field  as  early  as    1801,  Avould   have  known  it. 

In  1765  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  a  Congregational  min- 
ister; was  at  Victor,  as  a  missionary  among  the  Senecas. 

In  1795,  Rev.  Zadoc  Hunn,  of  Berkshire  County,  Mass., 
located  on  a  farm  in  Canandaigua,  adjoining  the  present 
town   of   Bristol.      He   was   the  first   resident  minister,  and 


15 

assisted  in  the  organinization  of  the  East  Bloomfield  Con- 
gregational church,  November  5,  1796.  After  Mr.  Hunn 
came  Rev.  John  Rolph  from  Massachusetts  and  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  South  Bristol  Congregational  church, 
January,  1797,  (organized  December  1796.)  This  church  has 
since  become  extinct.  Of  this  occasion  Mr.  Hotchkin 
remarks,  "  the  ministers  who  composed  this  council  " 
(convened  to  install  Mr.  Rolph)  "  were  Rev.  Zadoc  Hunn, 
Rev,  Eliphalet  Steel,  of  Paris,  Oneida  County,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Asahel  S.  Norton,  of  Clinton,  Oneida  County.  "... 
*' These  were  the  nearest  ministers  to  be  obtained." 
"  This  undoubtely,  was  the  first  ecclesiastical  council  ever 
convened  in  the  State  of  New  York,  west  of  the  east  line 
of  the  Military  Tract." 

The  third  minister  to  settle  was  the  Rev.  Reuben  Par- 
mele,  who  organized  the  Victor  church  September  13,  1798, 
and  was  installed  its  pastor  February  14,  1799.  Previous 
to  this  there  had  been  some  missionary  work  done  at  points 
in  this  field  by  the  missionaries  of  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  denominations. 

In  1793  Rev.  IraCondict  "a  missionary  under  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  General  Assembly  "  had  organized  a  Congre- 
gational church  at  Palmyra,  but  this  church  had  no  settled 
pastor  until  after  1800. 

In  1795,  Rev.  Daniel  Thatcher,  a  missionary  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  organized  a 
church  at  Elmira  which  became  extinct  about  18 10.  Also 
a  Presbyterian  church  at  Charlestown,  now  Lima;  and 
another  in  Geneseo.  ("  This  is  the  church  which  now  has 
its  location  at  the  little  village  of  Lakeville,  at  the  foot  of 
Conesuslake.") 

Soon  after  1790,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  John 
Smith,  of  Dighton,  Mass.,  a  number  of  settlers,  members  in 
eastern  Churches,  are  said  to  have  assembled  at  Canandai- 
gua,  and  there  as  a  church,  protempore,  to  have  partaken 
of  the    Lord's  Supper.     There  is  no  official    record  of  the 


i6 


occurrence,  extant.  The  Congregational  church  there  was 
organized  February,  1799.  St.  Mathew's  church,  of  Can- 
andaigua  (Episcopal)  was  organized  February.  4,  1799,  but 
became  extinct. 

It  is  thus  evident  that  the  Victor  Presbyterian  church 
is  one  of  the  first  and  oldest  church  organizations  in  that 
part  of  Western  New  York,  known  as  "the  Genesee  Country" 
and  lying  west  of  Seneca  Lake.  The  following  table  will 
show  its  position  in  the  order  of  organization: 

Palmyra  church 1793 

Lima  church 1795 

Geneseo  church  (Lakeville) 1795 

East  Bloomfield  November  5 1796 

Victor  church,  September  13 1798 

The  Victor  church,  organized  September  13,  1798,  was 
the  church  of  the  early  settlers  in  Victor.  Their  religious 
predilections  were  Congregational  and  Presbyterian,  evinced 
in  the  character  of  the  church  they  established.  To  this 
church  they  gave  their  adherence  and  support,  and  it  was 
not  until  after  1800  that  other  religious  affiliations  appeared. 
The  Methodists  were  the  first  to  follow  the  Presbyterians, 
and  as  early  as  1805  Rev.  Joseph  Jewell,  a  presiding  Elder 
of  the  Ontario  circuit,  (an  indefinite  territory)  was  accus- 
tomed to  visit  Victor,  but  an  organinization  was  not  effected 
until  1807,  when  a  class  of  seven  persons  was  formed.  Re- 
ligious services  were  held  for  several  years  in  the  School 
houses  in  the  town,  and  sometimes  in  the  "  Presbyterian 
meeting-house"  on  the  hill.  It  was  not  until  1820  that  the 
Methodists  began  to  build  a  church.  I  quote  the  following 
from  an  extract  of  their  church  history,  found  in  that  of 
Ontario  County  by  Prof.  Mcintosh  :  "A  determination  was 
expressed  by  Mr.  Loughborough  at  the  quarterly  meeting 
held  January  22,  1820,  in  the  Presbyterian  .Meeting  house 
in  Victor,  to  build  a  house  for  worship."  This  church  was 
dedicated  August    19,  1 82 1. 

In    1834    a    Universalist    Society  was  formed    and   its 
church  completed  its  organization  December  21,  1844. 


17 

St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church  was  built  about  1852,  and 
is  now  a  flourishing  organization. 

The  Episcopalians  began  to  establish  themselves  in  1871, 
and  commenced  in  1872  to  build  their  present  church,  which 
was  formally  opened  for  service  February  6,  1873.  Such  is 
the  outline  of  church  organization  in  Victor. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE   PRESBY- 
TERIAN CHURCH  AT  VICTOR. 


J^l  R.  Jabez    Moorehouse,  one  of  the  early   settlers  and 

y      V     oie  of  the   original  nine   members  received  at  the 

constitution  of  the  church,  was   the   first  to  establish  stated 

public  worship   in    Victor.      Subsequently   Rev.   Nathaniel 

Steele,  of  East  Bloomfield  church  devoted  a  part  of  his  time 

to  this  field,  but  after  a  brief  ministry  death  terminated  his 

labors.      A   few  from   Victor  joined    the   East    Bloomfield 

church   as   fruits   of   his   labor.     Then  came    Rev.    Reuben 

Parmele.  in  1798,  and  organized  the  church. 

This  organization  was  incorporated  as  a  Congregational 

Church  September,  13,  1798. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  as 

recorded  in  the  County  Clerk's  office  at  Canandaigua : 

Bloomfield,  Sept.  13,  1798. 
This  may  certify  that  at  a  legal  meeting  of  the  North  Congrega- 
tional Society  m  Bloomfield,  convened  agreeably  to  an  act  entitled,  an 
act  to  enable  all  rehgious  denominafions  in  this  State  to  appoint 
Trustees  who  shall  be  a  body  corporate  for  the  purpose  of  taking  care 
of  the  temporalities  of  their  respective  congregations  and  for  other 
purposes  therein  mentioned.  Jared  Boughton,  Joseph  Brace,  Jr.,  and 
Thomas  Hawley,  were  chosen  as  Trustees  tor,  and  as  considered  under 
tlie  style  of,  Trustees  for  the  North  Congregational  Society  in  Bloom- 
field, in  the  County  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New  York.  Given  under 
our  hands  and  seals  at  the  place  above  mentioned  this  thirteenth  day 
of  September,  A.  D.,  1798. 

Joseph  Brace,  Joshua  Ketchum,  [l.  s.] 

Jacob  Lobdell,        Seymour  Boughton,  [l.  s.] 

Returning  Officers. 


19 

Ontario  Co. — ss.:  Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  15th  day  of 
September,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight, 
personally  came  before  me,  Moses  Atwater,  one  of  the  Judges  in  and 
for  said  County,  Joseph  Brace,  who,  being  duly  sworn,  declared  he  saw 
Joshua  Ketchum  and  Seymour  Boughton  sign,  seal  and  deliver  the 
within  instrument  for  the  uses  and  purposes  therein  expressed.  I  do 
permit  the  same  to  be  recorded  as  such. 

MOSES  ATWATER. 

I  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true  copy  of  the  original  certificate 
•examined  and  compared  with  the  same  and  recorded  the  loth  of 
September,  1798.  PETER  B.  PORTER,  Clerk. 

State  of  New  York — Ontario  County  Clerk's  Office,  Canandaigua, 
N.  Y. — I,  William  G.  Dove,  Clerk  of  the  County  of  Ontario,  of  the 
County  Court  of  said  County,  and  of  the  Supreme  Court,  both  being 
courts  of  Record,  having  a  common  seal,  do  hereby  certify  that  I 
have  compared  the  annexed  copy  of  a  certificate  of  incorporation 
with  the  original,  recorded  in  this  office  in  Liber  A,  page  55,  and  that 
the  same  is  a  correct  transcript  therefrom  and  of  the  whole  of  said 
original. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  the 
■seal  of  said  county  and  courts,  this  14th  day  of  February,  1882. 

W.  G.  DOVE,  Clerk, 

The  work  of  incorporation  was  under  the  immediate 
supervision  of  Mr,  Parmele.  Having  completed  the  organ- 
ization and  recorded  the  act  of  incorporation,  he  accepted 
the  invitation  to  become  its  pastor;  returned  east  for  his 
family;  and  arrived  with  them  early  in  1799.  The  consti- 
tution of  the  spiritual  part  of  the  church  was  deferred  until 
his  return  from  the  east,  probably  in  order  that  he  might 
secure  the  letters  of  the  persons  who  were  to  form  the  nucleus 
of  this  part  of  the  organization.  The  manner  of  constituting 
the  spiritual  church,  as  then  in  vogue,  and  which  was  probably 
followed  by  Mr.  Parmele,  was  for  those  proposing  to  associate 
themselves  together  as  a  church  of  Christ,  on  a  day  appointed 
to  assemble,  being  moderated  by  a  minister. 

Each  gave  proof  of  his  Christian  hope  and  character, 
those  having  their  letters  producing  them  as  evidence  of 
their  good  standing.  If  satisfied  with  one  another's  qualifi- 
cations, and  the  minister's  endorsement  of  the  same,  they 
then  standing,  gave  their  assent  to  a  summary  of  Christian 
doctrine,  after  which  a  form  of  covenant  was  read  by  the 
minister,  and  to  which  they  all  gave  their  assent,   whereupon 


20 


they  were  announced  a  church  of  Christ.  A  record  of  such 
proceedings  was  generally  made,  (See  History  by  Rev.  J. 
H.  Hotchkin.) 

Rev.  Reuben  Parmele  having  returned  with  his  family, 
assembled  nine  persons,  as  above,  five  of  whom  were  males 
and  four  females.  They  were  Jabez  Moorehouse  and  wife, 
Elisha  Perkins,  Mehitable  Perkins  (his  wife),  Abijah 
Williams,  Mrs.  Hawley,  Jemima  Brace,  Samuel  Boughton 
Dr.  Reuben  Hart. 

These  persons  adopted  and  subscribed  to  certain  articles 
of  faith  and  a  covenant,  which  defined  the  doctrinal  standing 
and  religious  character  of  the  church,  and  the  relations  to  it 
of  all  its  members. 

The  doctrinal  points  involved  are  those  held  by  the 
Orthodox  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  churches. 

On  February  13,  1779,  an  ecclesiastical  council  was 
convened  to  install  Mr.  Parmele.  It  consisted  of  Rev. 
Zadoc  Hunn;  Rev.  Seth  Williston,  who  was  on  the  field 
engaged  in  bringing  about  what  is  known  as  the  "  Great 
Revival  "  of  1799,  .and  which  swept  Ontario  County  with  its 
religious  influence ;  also  Rev.  Mr.  Rolph,  of  South  Bristol, 
and  delegates  Ehud  Hopkins  from  East  Bloomfield  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  Aaron  Rice  from  South  Bristol 
Church.  (Rev.  Mr.  Hotchkin  also  mentions  Rev.  Jedediah 
Bushnell,  but  the  records  do  not  show  this). 

The  council  examined  and  approved  the  call  of  the 
church  for  Mr.  Parmele's  services,  and  the  articles  of  faith 
and  form  of  covenant  previously  adopted. 

It  then  proceeded  to  the  installation,  which  took  place 
the  following  day,  February  14th. 

Rev.  Zadoc  Hunn  made  the  opening  prayer  and  gave 
the  charge;  Rev.  John  Rolph  preached  the  sermon ;  Rev. 
Seth  Williston  (afterward  Dr.  Williston,  of  Durham,  Green 
County,  N.  Y.)  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  and  made 
the  concluding  prayer. 

Mr.  Parmele,  when  he  came  to  Victor,  "was  a  man  in 
middle  life."     He  had  previously  been  settled  in  Hinesburgh, 


21 

Vermont,  but  at  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Victor,  was 
from  Connecticut,  and  a  Congregational  minister.  He 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  178 1.  So  far  as  the  writer 
can  ascertain,  Mr.  Parmele's  was  the  second  installation  in 
this  region. 

The  Lord's  supper  was  administered  for  the  first  time 
by  this  church,  on  April  7,  1799,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Asa 
Hickox,  Jr.,  (Heacock)  and  Polly  Hickox  (probably  his 
wife)  were  received  into  the  communion  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Joseph  Brace,  previously  admitted,  was  the  first  to  join 
the  church  after  its  organization. 

The  early  meetings  of  the  church  were  held  in  the 
houses  of  the  leading  members,  and  in  barns  when  the 
houses  were  too  small  to  accommodate  the  audience,  and 
it  is  probable  that  when  the  weather  permitted  services 
were  held  in  the  open  air,  and  under  the  protection  of  the 
woods  near  by.  It  was  not  until  after  1800  that  the  society 
began  to  build  a  church. 


CHURCH  ERECTION. 


EARLY  in  1800,  the  church  known  as  the  "North 
Congregational  Society  in  Bloomfield"  began  to  agitate 
the  question  of  buildinga  house  of  worship.  As  early  as  1804, 
a  subscription  paper  was  circulated  in  the  society  and 
undoubtedly  there  were  those  who,  although  not  members 
of  the  society,  were  willing  to  contribute  toward  this  the 
first  church  in  this  part  of  the  town.  West  Bloomfield  had 
already  begun  to  build,  having  erected  a  frame  about  1800. 
Both  of  these  buildings  were  erected  by  the  Congregational 
societies  to  which  they  respectively  belonged.  There  was 
not  even  the  shadow  of  another  church  organization  in  the 
town  to  assist  in  such  building,  or  to  lay  claim  to  any 
interest  in  it  after  built. 

The  subscription  paper  of  1804  was  of  the  nature  of  an 
assessment  or  tax  roll.  Each  "pater-familias"  in  the 
society,  or  in  case  of  his  decease,  the  representative  of  the 
family,  was  taxed,  according  to  his  wealth  and  age,  his 
proportion  of  the  whole  amount  to  be  raised,  and  by  his 
connection  with  the  society  he  felt  that  he  stood  committed 
to  pay  his  proportion,  whatever  it  might  be.  His  relation 
to  the  society  being  of  his  own  volition,  there  was  no 
compulsion  from  which  he  could  not  withdraw.  An 
illustration  of  this  system  of  assessment  and  tax  is  furnished 


23 

in  the  assessment  or  tax  roll  found  in  Appendix  (A.)  This 
tax  was  levied  to  make  a  final  payment  on  this  very  church 
building. 

All  the  current  expenses  were  met  by  such  a  tax  ;  and 
all  expenses  of  building  or  otherwise.  This  is  the  same 
custom  that  prevailed  in  the  East  Bloomfield  Church,  to 
which  this  church  was  closely  related.  (See  Dr.  Kendall's 
sermon,  1851.) 

The  building  was  erected  in  1805-6,  on  the  hill  back  of 
the  Gallup  store,  and  was  known  as  the  "  Meeting  House  in 
the  North  Congregational  Society  in  Bloomfield,"  subse- 
quently as  the  "  Presbyterian  Meeting-House."  The  pews 
were  owned  by  members  of  the  society,  and  when  pew- 
holders  moved  out  of  town  they  often  sold  their  pews  to 
other  parties  who  wished  to  become  members  of  the  society. 
It  is  asserted  that  the  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  Trustees  to 
properly  guard  such  sales,  and  some  disaffection  on  the  part 
of  a  few  in  the  church  about  the  year  1830,  led  to  conflicting 
claims  as  to  the  rights  in  the  use  of  the  church,  and  that 
under  the  impulse  of  such  contentions,  the  old  church  being 
dilapidated,  and  the  Congregationalists  abundantly  able  to 
build,  a  new  church  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1S33. 
After  the  Congregationalists  had  moved  into  their  new 
church,  the  Universalists  formed  a  society  and  occupied  the 
old  house  on  the  hill.  Thomas  Hawley  gave  the  land  upon 
which  the  first  church  stood.  There  is  no  record,  extant? 
to  show  that  he  executed  a  deed  at  the  time  of  the  gift;  but 
as  late  as  181 8,  a  deed  was  drawn  conveying  said  land  to  the 
proprietors  or  pew-Holders  in  the  society.  This  deed  was 
recorded  in  1825,  but  not  until  other  names,  apparently 
more  recent  purchasers  of  pews,  lately  moved  in,  had  been 
added  after  the  execution  of  the  deed.  Abijah  Williams  was 
the  boss  carpenter  and  was  a  member  of  the  church  from 
its  organization  and  a  deacon  in  the  church  from  July  10, 
1 812,  until  his  death,  March  — ,  1840.  In  1831,  Nathan 
Jenks  deeded  to  the  Congregational  society  the  land  on 
which  its  present  church  stands      This  church  w^as  dedicated 


24 

Thursday,  January  24,  1833,  at  1 1  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
There  were  present  at  the  service,  Rev.  Daniel  Johnson 
and  Rev,  Reuben  Parmele,  of  Victor  ;  Rev.  Silas  C.  Brown, 
of  West  Bloomfield ;  Rev.  Asa  Johnson,  of  Richmond ; 
Rev.  Gilbert  Morgan,  of  Rochester  ,    Delegates — Jonathan 

Smith,    East  Bloomfield;  Gardner,  West  Bloomfield; 

Jas.  Templeton,  of  East  Mendon  ;  James  Wells,  of  Richmond; 
also.  Rev.  Richard  Kay,  who  was  installed  by  the  above 
named  council  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day. 

The  new  church  was  40x50  feet,  with  a  gallery  and 
spire,  and  far  in  advance  of  anything  in  the  town  for  its 
day,  and  cost  about  $3,500.  It  was  altered  and  repaired  in 
1S44.  "In  i860  an  addition  was  made  to  the  rear;  a  new 
spire  was  built  ;  a  bell,  weighing  1,700  pounds  and  costing 
$500,  was  hung  in  the  new  spire.  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Osborne 
was  appointed  a  committee  with  power  to  select  and 
purchase  the  bell.  He  finally  found  one  to  suit  him  at 
Troy.  Mr.  Osborne  is  a  man  of  good  judgment;  a  fine 
musical  ear;  and  orthodox,  as  well.  It  was  well  for  the 
church  that  he  was  chosen  ;  he  meant  that  there  should  be 
no  heterodox  twang  to  this  bell ;  and  its  ring  to-day  is  the 
clear,  strong  tone,  with  its  silver  sweetness,  symbol  of  that 
pure  doctrine  and  divine  truth  which  have  proverbially 
emanated  from  its  pulpit.  There  is  no  uncertain  sound  to 
this  bell.  In  i860  the  town  clock  was  placed  in  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

In  1868  the  society  built  a  parsonage  costing  about 
$5,000,  and  in  1870  made  additional  improvements  in  the 
church,  including  a  place  for  the  organ,  at  a  cost  of  several 
thousand  dollars.  Col.  Melancthon  Lewis  gave  the  organ, 
which  cost  about  $2,000. 

In  1884  the  interior  of  the  church  was  greatly  improved, 
the  woodwork  grained  black-walnut ;  the  seats  recushioned 
and  the  floors  newly  carpeted 

In  1887  the  parlors  in  the  church  basement  were 
separated  by  glass  partitions,  the  ceilingsand  wall  calcimined, 
the  large  room  relighted,  and  the  furniture  largely  replaced 


25 

with  chairs.  There  were  also  some  important  improvements 
made  in  the  parsonage,  and  the  fence  was  removed  from  the 
front  and  west  sides  and  the  grounds  about  the  church 
graveled  and  graded  and  drained.  It  is  at  present  a  fine 
•church  property,  with  a  very  pleasant  audience  room,  and 
a  highly  intelligent  congregation,  with  enough  of  wealth, 
certainly,  to  prevent  all  friction  from  financial  embarrassment. 
In  1887  Mrs.  Carrie  E.  Sale,  a  widow,  and  an  earnest 
Christian  woman,  devoted  to  her  church,  died,  and  out  of 
her  small  patrimony,  left  the  church  a  fund  of  $1,000. 

As  an  organization,  this  church  was  connected  with 
the  "Ontario  Association"  until  that  body  was  merged  into 
the  Presbytery  of  Geneva.  This  leads  to  a  consideration 
■of  Presbyterial  connection. 


^:^^iv 


PRESBYTERIAL     CONNECTION. 


T  the  commencement  of  the  year  1799,  Rev.  Zadock 
Hunn,  at  North  Bristol ;  Rev.  John  Rolph,  at  South 
Bristol:  and  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  just  arrived  at  Victor 
were  the  ministers  resident  in  the  Genesee  country.  Subse 
quently  came  Rev.  Timothy  Field,  who  was  ordained  and 
installed  at  Canandaigua  February,  1800.  Rev.  Joseph 
Grover  arrived  during  1799,  ^^  a  missionary  from  a  society 
in  New  Jersey,  and  June  11,  1800,  was  installed  at  North 
Bristol. 

These  five  resident  ministers  met  at  Bristol,  March 
18,  1800,  and  formed  themselves  into  an  association  known 
as  "The  Association  of  Ontario,"  the  first  of  the  kind 
in  New  York  State.  This  association  was  modelled 
after  the  Morris  County  Associated  Presbytery  of  New 
Jersey.  Each  church  was  invited  to  send  a  delegate,  who 
should  have  an  equal  standing  with  the  ministers.  They 
held  semi-annual  meetings,  and  at  each  such  stated  meeting 
elected  a  moderator  and  clerk.  At  its  second  meeting,. 
Rev.  Eleazer  Fairbanks  joined  the  association.  In  1803, 
Rev.  James  H.  Hotchkin,  of  West  Bloomfield  and  Rev. 
Abijah  Warren,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Rolph  at  South  Bristol, 
united  with  the  association.  In  ib'04the  following  churches, 
were  connected  with  the  association:  Lima,  East  Bloomfield,. 
West  Bloomfield,  Victor,  Canandaigua,  North  Bristol,  South 
Bristol,  Naples,  Richmond,  Rushville. 


27 

The  Presbytery  of  Geneva  was  formed  from  the  Oneida 
Presbytery  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1805,  and  included 
all  that  part  of  New  York  State  lying  west  of  Oneida  and 
Chenango  counties.  The  ministers  who  composed  it  were 
Rev.  Jedediah  Chapman,  of  Geneva,  Rev.  John  Lindsley,  of 
Covert,  Rev.  Samuel  Leacock,  of  Hopewell,  and  Rev.  Jabez 
Chadwick,  of  Genoa.  The  churches  connected  with  the 
Presbytery,  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  were  Covert, 
Geneva,  Lakeville,  Trumansburgh,  Ithaca,  Ovid,  Seneca 
Falls  and  Hopewell.  The  first  meeting  of  this  Presbytery 
was  held  at  Geneva,  September  17,  1805.  At  this  meeting 
it  was  decided  that  "Presbytery  can  consistently  receive  as 
a  constituent  member  of  their  body  a  minister  belonging  to 
an  association,  without  his  discontinuing  his  connection 
with  the  association.  "  In  conformity  with  this  decision  Rev. 
David  Higgins  and  Rev.  Hezekiah  North  Woodruff,  members 
of  the  "Middle  Association,"  were  received  as  members  of 
the  Presbytery.  These  records  of  Presbytery,  upon  review  by 
Synod,  being  approved,  the  principle  involved  was  regarded 
as  established,  and  cemented  the  fellowship  already  existing 
between  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists,  and  ultimately 
resulted  in  the  abolishing  of  the  associations,  and  their 
absorption  by  the  Presbyteries,  thus  giving  to  Western  New 
York  a  strong  Presbyterian  complexion.  It  was  recognized 
by  both  denominations  that  they  occupied  essentially  the 
same  doctrinal  ground.  Believing  a  more  permanent  union 
would  subserve  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  Middle  Association, 
on  October  7,  1807,  appointed  a  commissioner  to  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Albany,  then  in  session,  and 
propose  a  union  with  that  body  of  the  "  Middle  Association." 
Such  union  was  subsequently  effected  and  sanctioned  by 
the  General  Assembly  May,  1808.  Thus  the  Middle 
Association  became  merged  in  the  Synod  of  Albany. 

In  October,  18 10,  the  Presbytery'  of  Geneva  was 
divided,  all  the  ministersand  churches  west  of  Cayuga  Lake 
remaining  in  the  Presbytery  of  Geneva;  while  the  rest  of 
the  territory  formerly  occupied  by  the  Geneva   Presbytery 


28    . 

was  divided  into  two  Presbyteries,  known  respectively  as 
the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Onondaga. 
The  General  Assembly,  in  May,  1811,  constituted  these 
three  Presbyteries  into  the  Synod  of  Geneva,  which  first 
met  at  Geneva,  October,  181 1.  In  this  new  Synod  prevailed 
the  same  principle  and  practice  concerning  Congregational 
associations  and  churches  that  had  been  established  by  the 
Albany  Synod;  in  fact  the  Congregational  churches  were 
Presbyterian  in  all  respects,  with  the  exception  "  that  their 
sessions  were  composed  of  all  the  male  members  of  the 
•church  of  suitable  age,  instead  of  a  bench  of  elders  chosen  for 
the  purpose  of  Government"  and  representing  the   people. 

May  5,  1813,  the  "Ontario  Association,"  the  oldest  of 
the  kind  in  the  State,  dissolved  itself,  and  became  merged 
in  the  Presbytery  of  Geneva,  declaring  that  "in  the  view 
of  this  association  there  is  no  reason  why  those  denomi- 
nations of  professing  Christians,  usually  called  Presbyterians 
and  Congregationalists,  should  not  receive  each  other  as 
brethern,  and  be  united  as  one  body  in  the  strictest  sense."' 
It  was  therefore  resolved  to  dissolve  the  association,  that 
its  ministers  and  churches  might  unite  with  the  Geneva 
Presbytery.  Mr.  Reuben  Parmele  became  a  member  of 
this  Presbytery.  There  is,  however,  nothing  to  show  that 
the  Victor  church  became  ofTicialy  connected  with  the 
'Geneva  Presbytery  as  thus  constituted.     It  evidently  did  not. 

February  19,  1817,  the  Synod,  in  Session  at  Geneva 
divided  the  Geneva  Presbytery  into  four  Presbyteries. 
Ontario  Presbytery  was  formed  at  this  time,  it  embraced 
the  ministers  and  churches  between  the  eastern  boundary 
line  of  the  "Holland  Purchase"  and  the  dividing  line 
between  the  third  and  forth  ranges  of  townships  in  the 
Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase  in  the  County  of  Ontario. 
(From  the  dividing  line  between  Farmington  and  Victor, 
to  near  the  eastern  boundary  of  Genesee  County.)  From 
this  Presbytery  was  set  off  in  18 19  the  Presbytery  of 
Rochester,  which  also  drew  from  the  Niagara  Presbytery. 
At  this  time  Ontario  Presbytery,  greatly  reduced,  consisted 


29 

•of  12  ministers,  9  churches,  and  one  Hcentiate.  While  the 
Synod  of  Geneva  to  which  it  belonged,  contained  93 
ministers,  145  churches  and  8  licentiates;  showing  the 
marvelous  growth  in  population,  churches  and  ministers, 
and  the  deplorable  deficiency  of  ministers  to  occupy  this 
growing  field. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1821,  set  off  from  the  Synod 
of  Geneva,  the  Synod  of  Genesee,  embracing  the  Presbyteries 
of  Niagara,  Genesee,  Rochester,  and  Ontario;  which  held 
its  first  meeting  at  Rochester,  September  18,  1821,  and  was 
opened  with  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.  At 
the  time,  the  Synod  numbered  39  ministers,  4  licentiates 
and  71  churches. 

February  8,  1827,  the  Victor  Church  voted  to  adopt 
the  Presbyterian  form  of  Goverment.  March  21st  Elders 
were  duly  elected,  aud  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month 
ordained.  January  16,  1828,  at  its  meeting  in  Geneseo,  the 
Presbytery  of  Ontario  received  the  Victor  church  as  a 
member  of  its  body.  Against  this  course  of  the  majority  of 
the  Victor  church  the  minority  protested. 

September  20,  1832,  a  compromise  was  effected  between 
the  two  factions  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  it  should  be  an 
independent  congregational  church,  not  under  the  jurisdiction 
-of  Presbytery,  but  submitting  its  records  to  that  body 
annually  as  a  court  of  review  and  arbitration,  and  that  in 
cases  of  appeal  by  an  aggrieved  party  to  Presbytery,  the 
.adjudication  of  the  case  by  that  body  should  be  final. 

March  8,  1858.  the  church  again  adopted  the  Presbyter- 
ian form  of  goverment  and  became  entitled  the  "  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Victor,"  and  united  with  the  Rochester 
Presbytery  at  its  meeting  in  Rochester,  April  6th  and  7th 
of   the  same  year. 

In  1 871  the  Victor  church  was  transferred  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Geneva,  but  in  1874  applied  to  be  restored  to 
the  Rochester  Presbytery,  and  was  so  restored.  It  has  since 
retained  this  connection. 


GENERAL    OUTLINE     OF     CHURCH 
RECORDS. 

Including   Sketches    of  the    Several    Pastors, 
as    far  as    could    be    obtained. 


IT  has  been  stated  that  on  April  7,  1799  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  after  the  organization 
of  the  church.  May  24th  of  the  same  year  it  was  deter- 
mined to  celebrate  the  Lord's  Supper  regularly,  once  in  two- 
months,  and  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  the  month,  which  custom 
is  still  in  vogue. 

At  the  installation  of  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  certain 
articles  of  Faith  and  a  covenant,  were  drawn  up  and  adopted 
by  the  church.  These  articles  were  Calvanistic,  and  simi- 
lar to  those  held  by  the  Congregational  churches  generally. 
The  essential  doctrines  of  the  church  have  never  changed, 
but  now  in  place  of  any  set  of  articles  peculiar  to  the  in- 
dividual church,  this  church  stands  doctrinally  upon  the 
standards  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  together  with  a  cor- 
responding confession  and    covenant,   adopted    October    3, 

1884. 

In  its  early  history,  its  discipline  was  governed  by 
variable  rules  peculiar  to  this  individual  church.  Now  its 
discipline  is  according  to  the  Book  of  Discipline  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Isaac  Root,  the  first  deacon  in  the  church,  was  elected 
May  31  1804,  and  ceased  to  act,  March  14,  18 16. 


31 

January  2,  1806  the  pastoral  relation  between  Mr. 
Parmele  and  the  church  was  dissolved,  but  he  appears  to 
have  supplied  the  pulpit  until  1812,  when  his  successor  was 
chosen.  During  this  time  the  lead  in  meetings  for  public 
worship,  devolved  upon  a  committee  consisting  of  Samuel 
Boughton,  Joseph  Rowley,  Abijah  Williams,  and  Ira  Sey- 
mour. The  Council  convened  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation  consisted  of  ministers — Joseph  Grover,  Aaron  C. 
Collins,  and  James  W.  Hotchkin.  and  delegates,  Deacon 
Goodwin,  and  Messrs.  Eben  Norton,  and  Daniel  Canfield. 
The  cause  assigned  for  the  dissolution  was,  a  mutual 
agreement  between  pastor  and  people. 

The  Council  endorsed  Mr.  Parmele  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  of  good  moral  and  Christian  character,  and  deserving 
the  support  of  the  churches. 

Mr.  Parmele  was  elected  moderator  and  clerk  of  the 
church,  and  continued  to  live  in  Victor  until  about  1836. 
when  he  went  to  live  with  one  of  his  children  in  the  West, 
He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Rev.  Abiel  Parmele,  at 
Almond,  Allegany  County,  N.  Y.,  about  84  years  old.  He 
was  one  of  the  five  ministers  and  seven  ruling  elders,  who 
on  the  second  Tuesday  in  March  1817,  met  at  Livonia  and 
constituted  the  Presbytery  of  Ontario,  (see  Chapter  IV )  and 
also  in  1800  "The  Association  of  Ontario,"  (see  Chapter  VI.) 

April  6,  1812,  the  church  called  Rev.  Philander  Parmele. 
A  council  was  convened  for  his  ordination  and  installation, 
on  May  5,  1812, 

There  were  present  at  the  Council,  Ministers  Reuben 
Parmele,  Aaron  C.  Collins,  Oliver  Ayei,  Abiel  Jones,  Ezekiel 
T.  Chapman,  Silas  Hubbard,  and  John  Bliss;  and  delegates 
Noah  Ashley,  Josiah  Owen,  Samuel  Blakesley,  and  Samuel 
Stone.  The  following  day,  May  6th,  at  10  a.  m.  the  people 
assembled  in  the  "meeting  house,"  "and  in  the  presence  of 
the  church  and  congregation,  and  a  respectable  Assembly, 
solemnly  consecrated  Mr.  Parmele  to  the  Sacred  office  of  a 
minister  of  Christ  in  Bloomfield." 


32 

Eev.  Oliver  Ayer,  offered  the  introductory  prayer. 
Rev.  Ezekiel  T.  Chapman,  preached  the  Sermon  from  Acts 
9:6. 

Rev.  Aaron  C.  CoUins,  offered  the  ordaining  prayer. 

Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  gave  the  charge. 

Rev.  John  F.  Bliss,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

Rev.  Silas  Hubbard,  offered  the  concluding  prayer. 

I  have  been  able  to  obtain  only  the  following  concerning 
the  life  of  this  the  second  pastor  of  the  Victor  church. 

"Philander  Parmele  son  of  Josiah  Parmele,  born  in 
North  Killingworth  Conn.  1/83,  graduated  at  Yale  1809, 
ordained  pastor  of  church  in  Victor  N.  Y.  May  5,  1812,  dis- 
missed December  28,  18 14.  Installed  pastor  of  church  at 
Bolton,  Conn.  Nov.  8,  i8i5,died  December27,  1822,  age  39. 
He  was  a  laborious,  earnest  and  faithful  minister." — Spraguc  s 
Annals,  Am.  Pulpit  p.  546. 

Action  taken  by  the  church  July  10,  1812,  evinces  that 
it  was  difficult  to  induce  christians  residing  in  the  town 
whose  membership  was  in  Eastern  churches,  to  take  their 
letters  to  this  church.  The  action  taken  indicates  the 
importance  of  the  situation,  one  year's  grace  was  given, 
after  which  they  must  unite  with  the  Victor  church,  if  they 
would  enjoy  the  privileges  of  its  communion  table.  The 
justification  for  this  was  undoubtedly,  in  the  evident  want 
of  proper  christian  integrit}^  on  the  part  of  such  persons; 
who,  while  residing  permanently  in  the  town,  refused  to 
put  themselves  in  full  connection  with  the  church,  and  by  so 
doing,  felt  free  from  its  proper  restraints. 

Again  April  15  18 13'  we  see  the  church  struggling  with 
corrupting  influences  in  the  church  and  community, 
requiring  members  of  the  church  to  restrain  their  children 
from  gambling,  dancing  or  balls.  The  former  a  vice  at  any 
time  and  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  how  promiscuous  dancing  and 
balls,  like  card  playing,  may  be  ruinous  to  the  Christian 
character  and  morals  of  a  community.  It  is  the  abuse  and 
corrupting  tendency  and  influence,  of  things  considered 
in  themselves  harmless,  that  needs  most  careful  guarding. 


33 

Another  felt  need  expressed  itself  at  this  time,  in  the 
demand  that  members  instruct  their  children  in  the 
Catechism,  and  cause  them  to  attend  upon  the  ministrations 
of  the  Lord's  House  and  other  moral  instruction.  The 
importance  of,  such  is  self-evident.  Often  parents  have 
only  themselves  to  blame,  that  their  children  are  ignorant 
of  sound  doctrine,  and  are  Sabbath-breakers,  and  direlect  in 
the  religious  and  respectable  habit  of  church  attendance. 
A  truly  Christian  parentage  is  a  great  blessing,  while  a 
practically  irreligious  parentage,  is  a  curse  to  any  childhood 
and  the  terribleness  of  the  curse  only  eternity  will  reveal. 

December  28,  1814,  an  ecclesiastical  council,  consisting 
of  ministers — Aaron  C.  Collins,  Ezekiel  T.  Chapman  and 
Dennis  O.  Griswold,  dissolved  the  pastoral  relation  subsisting 
between  the  church  and  Rev.  Philander  Parmele.  The 
council  commended  Mr.  Parmele's  pastorate  and  endorsed 
him  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 

During  the  five  years  intervening  until  the  next  pastor- 
ate, Rev.  Reuben  Parmele  appears  to  have  acted  as 
moderator,  and  to  have  been  in  charge  of  the  pulpit.  It  was 
during  this  period  and  in  the  year  1816,  that  the  church  felt 
the  influence  of  the  revival  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and 
was  strengthened  by  it,  36  uniting  with  the  church.  The 
church  had  already  been  through  one  such  season,  under 
Mr.  Parmele's  ministry  during  the  great  revival  of  1799, 
which  swept  over  the  churches  in  this  region.  Also  in  1830 
and  1 83 1,  under  Rev.  Daniel  Johnson,  there  was  a  measure 
of  revival,  49  members  being  added  to  the  church  during 
these  two  years.  Under  Rev.  Richard  Kay,  in  1833  and 
1834,  54  members  were  added  to  the  church,  showing  a 
marked  spiritual  interest.  In  the  beginning  of  1837,  under 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Jairus  Wilcox,  there  Avas  an  interesting 
revival  and  39  members  were  added  to  the  church.  Under 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Charles  E.  Furman,  in  1839,  4^  were 
added  to  the  church,  and  again  under  the  same  ministry,  in 
1843  ^  gracious  outpouring  of  God's  Spirit  resulted  in  65 
uniting  with  the  church  ;     151  uniting  during  the  eight  years 


34 

•of  his  ministry  here.  In  1853,  under  Rev.  Calvin  Waterbury, 
there  was  a  season  of  considerable  interest,  and  26  united 
with  the  church.  Again,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Nichols,  in  1868  there  was  a  precious  season  of  revival  and 
57  united  with  the  church.  During  1885 — 1887  the  church 
was  revived,  and  its  membership  increased  by  134.  It  is 
thus  seen  that  God's  Spirit  has  been  with  this  church,  and 
blessed  it  with  special  seasons  of  spiritual  refreshing  during 
the  almost  century  of  its  existence. 

December  1816,  the  church  voted  to  join  the  Congre- 
gational Association  to  be  formed  in  this  region.  Viz.  the 
Genesee  Consociation,  organized  about  1817. 

October  19, 18 19, the  church  called  Rev. Ebenezer  Raymond. 
A  council  was  called  to  ordain  and  install  him.  It  assembled 
November  9,  18 19,  and  consisted  of  Rev.  John  Taylor  and 
Deacon  Ezra  Sheldon,  of  Mendon  ;  Rev.  Ezekiel  Chapman, 
(moderator),  and  delegate  Nathaniel  Fisher,  of  Bristol  ; 
Rev.  Chauncey  Cook  and  Deacon  Samuel  Stone,  of  Pitts- 
ford  ;  Rev.  Julius  Steele,  (scribe),  and  Deacon  William  Hall, 
of  Bloomfield,  and  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  of  Victor.  Rev. 
Solomon  Allen,  being  present,  was  invited  to  sit  as  corres- 
ponding member.  Mr.  Raymond  was  ordained  and 
installed  on  the  following  day,  November  10,  at  10:30,  A.  M., 
in  the  church  on  the  hill. 

Rev.  Reuben  Parmele  offered  the  introductory  prayer. 

Rev.  John  Taylor  preached  the  sermon  and  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  people. 

Rev.  Ezekiel  T.  Chapman  offered  the  ordaining  prayer. 

Rev.  Chauncey  Cook  gave  the  charge  to  the  candidate. 

Rev.  Julius  Steele  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship 
and  offered  the  concluding  prayer. 

Mr.  Raymond  graduated  from  Union  College  when  26 
years  old,  in  the  class  of  181 5,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
Union  Association  in  1816.  At  the  time  he  entered  college 
he  was  a  resident  of  Sherbourne,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y. 
These  are  the  only  facts  I  have  been  able  to  find  concerning 


35 

his  life.  After  leaving  Victor  he  went  to  Bristol,  where  he 
remained  from  1825  to  1830. 

Early  in  Mr.  Raymond's  pastorate  the  Church  revised 
and  elaborated  its  rules  of  discipline.  The  first  mention  on 
the  records  of  a  contribution  to  foreign  missions,  is  a  collec- 
tion of  five  dollars  in  1821,  which  was  sent  through  a  Mr. 
Beele,  of  Canandaigua,  to  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  New  York. 

March  25,  1825,  Mr.  Raymond  requested  a  dissolution 
of  the  pastoral  relation. 

A  council  convened  April  6,  1S25,  for  the  consideration 
of  a  case  of  discipline,  declined  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation,  upon  the  ground  that  it  was  not  mentioned  in  the 
call.  The  records  contain  no  evidence  that  Mr.  Raymond 
was  formally  released,  but  before  the  next  church  meeting 
May  26,  he  was  gone,  and  Rev,  Reuben  Parmele  was 
moderator. 

Rev.  Jabez  Spicer,  appears  to  have  served  the  church  as 
stated  supply,  from  January  i,  1826  to  Janury  30,  1827. 
There  is  no  record  of  a  call,  or  a  pastoral  relation  being 
established,  nor  any  trace  of  him  after  leaving  Victor. 

February  8,  1827,  we  again  find  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele, 
the  founder  and  life-long  friend  of  this  church,  in  charge 
He  was  moderator  of  the  church  meeting  held  on  this  date, 
at  which  the  church  voted  to  change  its  form  of  govern- 
ment to  Presbyterian.  The  minority  then  withdrew 
and  constituted  themselves  a  Congregational  church,  and  it 
was  not  until  five  years  afterward  that  the  breach  was  healed. 

May  16,  1827,  a  meeting  of  the  Genesee  Consociation 
was  held  at  Victor  to  consider  the  difficulties  arising  out 
of  this  split  in  the  church,  and  also  an  important  case  of 
discipline.  There  were  present.  Rev.  C.  Thorp,  moderator 
Rev.  John  Taylor,  Rev.  William  P.  Kendrick,  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Raymond,  and  delegates  Deacons  James  Saxton,  from 
Mendon,  and  Isaac  Seeley,  from  Henrietta,  Lyman  T. 
Lidder,  from  Elba  and  Amasa  Walker,  from  Byron, 


36 

The  following  ministers  being  present,  were  invited  to 
sit  as  corresponding  members :  Rev's.  Morris,  Parmele, 
Steele,    Hollenbeck,  and  Mr.  James  Gaboon,  a  licentiate. 

The  association  protested  against  the  action  of  the 
majority  in  the  face  of  so  determined  a  minority.  At  the 
same  time  conceding  there  was  no  violation  of  covenant 
in  a  Congregational  church  adopting  a  Presbyterian  form 
of  government.  The  association  also  exonerated  the 
majority  from  any  intention  of  undue  haste  or  wrong,  but 
the  association  did  not  then  effect  a  settlement  of  the 
difficulties.  At  a  meeting  in  the  church  on  the  hill,  July 
14,  1827,  which  was  moderated  by  Rev.  John  Taylor,  the 
motion  was  made  to  "meet  in  this  place,  the  Congregational 
Meeting-house  two  weeks  from  to-day,  at  two  o'clock,  P. 
M.  to  see  if  the  two  churches  can  agree  to  come  together." 
This  brings  the  record  of  the  Congregational  branch  to  the 
time  of  reunion — It  will  be  proper  before  considering 
the  Reunion  to  insert  here  the  action  of  the  Presbyterian 
branch  between  the  years  1827  and  1832. 

These  records  begin  with  a  brief  historical  sketch 
setting  forth  that  in  1827  a  large  majority  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  voted  to  change  its  form  of  government  from 
Congregational  to  Presbyterian.  The  reasons  given,  are 
the  mature  conviction  that  peace  in  the  church  could  not 
be  properly  maintained  under  a  Congregational  government, 
which  was  neither  efficient  nor  apostolic ;  while  the  Presby- 
terian government  was  apostolic  and  more  conducive  to 
peace  and  spirituality. 

Then  follow  the  records  of  the  meeting  at  which  the 
change  was  effected,  and  which  Mr.  Parmele  moderated. 

Subsequently,  on  March  21,  1827,  the  following  officers 
were  elected: 

Elders  William  Parmele,  and  Alvah  Dickinson,  Deacons, 
Abijah  Williams  and  William  Parmele.  These  officers 
were  duly  ordained  and  installed  Sunday  March  25,  1827, 
by  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele. 


37 

May  5, 1827,  Rev.  Garret  HoDenbeck,  and  Rev.  Warren 
Da)'  were  invited  to  attend,  as  counsellors  for  the  church, 
the  meeting  of  the  Consociation  held  May  16,  1827, 
and  referred  to  above.  A  letter  of  dismission  from  the 
association  was  requested. 

November  29,  1827,  this  branch  declined  to  return  to 
•Congregational  government,  but  proposed  as  a  basis  of 
settlement,  to  meet  on  middle  ground,  and  unite  on  the 
accommodating  plan  set  forth  in  the  Presbyterian   Digest. 

January  12,  1828,  Alvah  Dickinson,  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  attend  Presbytery  at  Geneseo,  on  January  15, 
1828,  and  present  a  request  for  the  admission  of  the  church 
to  Presbytery  ;  which  request  was  granted  and  the  church 
received  January  16,  1828. 

Rev.  Daniel  Johnson  began  his  ministry  at  Victor, 
about  September  7,  1828. 

Mr.  Johnson,  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  and  Mary 
Lathrop  Johnson,  and  was  born  at  Bridgewater,  Mass. 
November  1783.  He  was  one  of  the  younger  children  of 
a  large  family,  and  his  father  was  a  farmer.  He  was 
educated  at  Brown  University,  Providence  R.  T.  and 
studied  divinity  at  Bridgewater,  with  his  pastor.  Dr.  Reed, 
a  Unitarian.  In  1808  he  was  ordained  and  settled  for  life 
(a  custom  then  prevalent)  in  Orleans,  Barnstable  County, 
Mass. 

In  1809  he  married  Miss  Maria  A.  Sampson,  of 
Plymouth,  Mass  ("a  lineal  descendant  of  Miles  Standish  ; 
also  of  John  Alden  and  Priscilla,  whose  eldest  daughter 
Sarah,  married  Alexander,  the  only  son  of  Miles  Standish 
by  Rose  ")  Miss  Sampson  was  not  only  of  Puritan  blood,  but 
also  of  Puritan  orthodoxy, which  was  far  more  important  when 
she  undertook  the  reformation  of  this  young  Unitarian,  who 
soon  began  to  feel  the  influence  of  such  association,  and  con- 
vinced by  such  suasion,  that  his  wife's  religion  was  more  in 
accord  with  Scripture,  abandoned  his  liberal  sentiments, 
burned  his  sermons,  and  avowed  himself  for  Christ.  He  carried 
his  church  with  him.     This  shows  what  one  truly  pious  wife 


38 

can  do.  After  a  ministry  of  twenty  years  at  Orleans,  be- 
came to  Victor  about  September  7,  [828  and  was  the  first 
pastor  of  this  church  under  its  Presbyterian  governments 
His  judgement  was  good,  and  he  proved  successful  in 
harmonizing  the  discordant  elements,  and  so  accomplishing^ 
much  toward  reunion.  After  leaving  Victor  in  December 
183 1,  Mr.  Johnson  preached  for  a  time  at  Bushnell's  Basin, 
was  several  years  at  Sweden,  also  at  Adam's  Basin,  in 
Odgen.  His  health  failing  he  retired  to  a  small  farm,, 
occasionally  supplying  some  vacant  pulpit  for  a  few  months 
at  a  time.  In  1852  he  removed  to  Fairport  where  in- 
Febuary  i860  he  buried  his  wife  after  living  together  more 
than  fifty  years.  He  died  October  1867,  in  his  eighty- fourth 
year.  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Marsaellus,  of  Fairport,  who  so  kindly 
has  furnished  the  substance  for  this  sketch,  and  who  is  his 
eldest  daughter,  born  at  Orleans,  Mass.,  in  18 10,  writes, 
of  him.  "  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  formation  and 
success  of  the  American  board,  and  also  in  everything 
pertaining  to  missionary  work.  .  Among  my  earliest 
recollections,  are  the  earnest  prayers  at  the  family  altar  for 
those  who  had  gone  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 

Temperance  work  early  found  in  him  an  ardent 
supporter  and  advocate.  His  character  was  symmetrical,  a 
well  balanced  mind,  and  even  temperament ;  a  love  for  all 
the  ordiances  of  God's  house;  a  constant  attendant  at  the 
prayer-meeting,  and  Sabbath  services  in  his  old  age ; 
and  liberality  with  his  modest  means,  were  distinguishing, 
traits."     Wherever  known  he  was  highly  respected. 


January  11,  1829,  John  Mosher,  and  William  Bushnell 
were  ordained  elders.  They  had  been  elected  May  30^. 
1829,  at  which  time  John  Wells  was  elected  deacon.  Elder 
William  Bushnell  was  clerk  of  session  for  one  year,  when- 
he  resigned  and  Elder  J.  W.  Peet  was  elected  clerk. 

August  25,  1829,  the  Presbytery  of  Ontario  met  for 
the  first  time  in  Victor,  the  church  in  the  past  having  been 


39 

connected  with  the  Congregational  association.  This  brings 
the  record  of  this  branch  up  to  the  reunion,  which  took 
place  September  20,  1832. 

THE    REUNION. 

Both  parties  met  in  the  meeting  house  on  the  above 
mentioned  date,  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  moderator,  and 
Nathan  Jenks,  clerk.  The  ladies  also  were  given  a  voice  in 
•the  proceedings,  and  sanctioned  the  reunion. 

The  name  and  goverment  of  the  church  were  to  be 
■congregational,  the  majority  to  rule.  Any  person,  or 
persons,  aggrieved  by  the  decision  of  the  majority,  could 
have  the  right  of  appeal,  either  to  a  council  advisory  or  to 
the  Presbytery.  A  matter  carried  before  a  council  must 
come  before  the  church  for  final  approval.  But  in  case  of 
appeal  to  Presbytery,  the  decision  of  that  body  was  final. 
Tlie  church  records  were  to  be  submitted  to  the  Presbytery 
annually  for  review^  but  the  Presbytery  was  not  to  have  any 
<iuthority  or  control  over  the  church  itself.  September  27,  Ira 
Dickinson,  Frederick  A.  Hart,  Samuel  Tallmadge,  William 
Bushnell,  and  Belden  Seymour,  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  present  a  copy  of  the  new  constitution  to  the  members,  for 
their  subscription.  October  4th,  of  the  same  year,  the 
•committee  reported  that  the  new  constitution  had  been 
■submitted  to  nearly  every  member,  and  that  all  but  one  to 
\vhom  it  was  presented,  had  signed  it.  William  Bushnell, 
Waitstell  Dickinson,  and  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  bear  a  copy  of  the  new  constitution 
to  Presbytery  and  secure  its  concurrence  therewith.  ( For 
list  of  those  who  signed  new  constitution  see  p,  34,  vol.  2,  of 
Records.) 

■GENERAL  OUTLINE  OF  RECORDS   SUBSEQUENT  TO  REUNION. 

January  13,  1833.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered 
by  Rev.  Silas  C.  Brown,  and  seven  united  with  the  church. 
Thus  early  did  the  blessings  of  reunion    begin  to    manifest 


40 

themselves.      The  day  following,  Mr.  Brown  moderated  a 
church  meeting  that  gave  a  call  to  Rev.  Richard  Kay. 

The  new  church  building  was  dedicated,  January  24,. 
1833,  at  II  A.  U.  and  Mr.  Kay,  was  ordained  and  installed 
by  the  same  council,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  same  day.  and. 
so  the  reunited  church  received  its  new  house  of  worship,, 
and  new  pastor,  on  the  same  day,  and  began  a  new  career, 
which  was  destined  to  grow  brighter  and  stronger  and 
more  efficient,  from  that  day  forward. 

The  council  convened  January  23  ,  examined  Mr.  Kay^ 
and  made  preparation  for  his  ordination  and  installation  on 
the  following  day. 

Rev.  Asa  Johnson,  offered    the  introductory    prayer. 
Rev,  Gilbert   Morgan,  preached  the  sermon. 
Rev.  Silas  C.  Brown  offered  the  ordaining  prayer  and 
delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Rev.  Reuben    Parmele,  the  charge  to  the  pastor. 
Rev.  Daniel  Johnson,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 
Rev.  James  Cahoon,  the  concluding  prayer. 
(See  chapter  V  Church  Erection,  for  the  council  which 
ordained  and  installed  Mr.  Kay.) 

Mr.  Kay  was  a  graduate  of  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary,  class  of  1829-32,  and  to  its  catalogue  I  am 
indebted  for  the  few  following  facts  connected  with  his  life. 
He  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  January  16,  1799; 
united  with  the  English  Episcopal  church,  in  childhood  ; 
removed  to  Canada  West  in  18 19;  some  years  later  studied 
at  Hadley,  Mass.;  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge,  of  Hadley,  Mass.  and  at  Auburn,  1830-2;  He 
married  Miss  Mary  Anne  Flynn.  of  Auburn.  June  6,  1832; 
he  died  of  Apoplexy,  at  Lansing,  Mich.,  Jan.  2,  1877.  He 
had  five  sons  and  five  daughters ;  his  wife  and  three  sons 
survived  him;  he  was  ordained  and  installed  at  Victor, 
N.  Y.  by  a  council  January  24,  1833  ;  was  at  Victor,  1832-5; 
Holley,  1838-40;  Warsaw,  1840-7;  Groveland,  1847-9;  Oak- 
land, 1849-52;  Bennington, Mich.,  1852-77. 

A  strong   move    was    made   towards    a    better    churcli 


41 

attendance  in  October,  I833,  by  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  to  visit  each  church  member  and  hold  prayer 
meetings  in  the  different  districts,  and  so  awaken  the 
church  members  and  interest  others,  and  urge  and  develop 
a  more  earnest  attention  to  spiritual  things  and  church 
attendance.  This  was  an  important  move,  its  effect  being 
apparent  in  a  healthier  religious  condition  of  the  church, 
anci  in  increased  conversions. 

February  28,  1835,  it  was  decided  to  print  the  Articles 
of  Faith  and  Covenant  of  the  church,  together  with  the 
membership  roll.  It  was  very  difficult  for  me  to  secure 
even  fragmentary  copies  of  this  circular.  At  the  same 
meeting  in  February  a  Total  Abstinence  Society  was 
organized  in  connection  with  the  church.  Nathan  Jenks 
and  Belden  Seymour  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft 
a  constitution  for  said  society.  It  was  also  resolved  that 
the  church  meet  once  in  two  weeks  to  pray  for  success  and 
blessing  to  attend  our  efforts  in  the  Sabbath  School  cause. 
How  much  of  the  present  prosperity  of  the  church  is 
undoubtedly  due  to  this  action  and  such  seasons  of 
prayer ! 

The  zeal  of  those  Christians,  fifty-three  years  ago,  has 
left  the  healthy  impress  of  its  influence  on  the  church  to-day 
and  if  we  would  do  as  much  for  the  generations  to  come, 
we  must  imbue  the  present  with  a  truly  pious  and  consecrated 
life,  and  attention  to  church  and  spiritual  affairs.  The  Sab- 
bath breaker  of  to-day,  who  neglects  God's  house,  and  by 
riding  and  driving  and  social  amusements,  lowers  the 
Christian  estimate  of  the  Sabbath  and  religious  life,  and 
neglects  the  Sabbath  School,  and  to  pray  and  work  for  its 
prosperity,  is  sowing  a  lower  life  and  cursings  rather  than 
blessings  for  the  generations  to  come. 

The  above  is  the  first  minute  I  have  found  on  the 
records  concerning  the  existence  of  a  Sabbath  School.  It 
shows  that  such  a  school  was  already  an  established  adjunct 
of  the  church.     I  am   fortunate  in   beine  able  to  secure  an 


42 

account  of  that  first  organization  from  the  Hps  of  one  of 
the  scholars  of  the  first  Sabbath  School  class  organized. 
and  who  is  still  living  in  the  community.  Mrs.  Betsey 
Boughton,  then  Betsey  Parks,  daughter  of  Simeon  Parks, 
a  deacon  of  this  church,  came  to  Victor  with  her  parents 
in  the  year  1812,  and  was  then  thirteen  years  old.  having 
been  born  the  same  year  in  which  this  church  organization 
was  completed.  In  18 14  the  Sabbath  School  was  organized. 
There  were  no  stoves  in  the  old  church  on  the  hill,  and 
after  the  service,  she,  with  a  few  of  the  other  girls,  would 
run  down  to  Mrs.  Dr.  Beach's  kitchen  to  warm  themselves. 
One  Sabbath  they  found  Mrs.  Beach  getting  something  for 
a  guest  to. eat.  At  that  moment  she  was  toasting  bread, 
and  while  so  engaged  entered  into  conversation  with  the 
girls  as  to  their  knowledge  of  the  Bible. 

The  next  Sabbath  when  they  came  in  she  proposed 
that  they  come  there  every  Sabbath  and  study  the  Bible 
with  her.  This  pleased  the  girls  for  they  were  fond  of  Aunt 
Fally  Beach,  as  they  used  to  call  her.  This  Sabbath  school 
class  soon  grew  to  such  proportions  that  it  became  necessar\' 
to  use  the  ball  room  upstairs,  thus  consecrating  that  place 
of  pedal  and  lower  education,  to  a  higher  and  spiritual 
ambition.  This  Sunday  S'_-hool  has  been  kept  up  to  this 
da)'  and  now  numbers  over  three  hundred  members. 

The  roll  of  the  present  school  can  be  found  in 
Appendix  (D) 

The  house  then  occupied  b}'  Dr.  Beach  is  the  present 
residence  of  William  Gallup,  on  Main  Street,  next  door  to 
his  store.  The  house  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the 
town,  and  was  at  the  time  above  mentioned  a  prominent 
hotel  in  this  region.  It  is  said  that  in  1824-25,  when 
Lafayette  was  passing  through,  he  spoke  from  its  piazza  to 
the  people  assembled  to  honor  him. 

April  19,  1835,  the  church  gathered  about  the  Lord's 
table,  upon  the  occasion  of  bidding  farewell  to  one  of  its 
members.  Miss  Marietta  Rawson,  who  was  about  to  sail  as  a 


43 

missioiidi'}'  to  Bombay,  India,  having  married  Joseph 
Webster.  Out  of  this  church  and  Sabbath  School  others 
have  gone  to  serve  the  Lord  as  ambassadors  of  Christ. 
There  is  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Henry  Palmer,  of  Penn  Yan,  the  son 
of  Dr.  Pahner,  the  respected  and  beloved  physician,  who 
served  the  community  so  faithfully  for  years  ;  and  there  is 
also  his  other  son,  Rev.  Frederick  William  Palmer,  who  has 
recently  completed  his  studies  at  Auburn  Seminar}'  for  this 
same  sacred  office.  Then  there  are  Rev.  Clark  B  Gillette, 
of  Elmira,  and  Rev.  Albert  S.  Bacon,  of  Oneida  Castle,  and 
Rev.  George  F.  Svveezy,  whose  father  was  an  elder  in  the 
church  before  removing  to  Batavia.  These  were  all  mem- 
bers of  this  Sabbath  School  and  attendants  upon  the 
church,  and  most  of  them  members  of  the  church  while  they 
lived  in  Victor.  I  should  also  mention  Miss  Emeline  Dryer 
and  Miss  Mary  Moore,  both  of  whom  are  now  engaged  in 
the  Bible  work  at  Chicago,  111.,  and  also  Miss  Abbie  E. 
Parks,  for  a  time  a  missionary  to   Utah. 

November  12,  1835,  a  council  convened  to  consider  the 
request  of  Mr.  Kay  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation. 
It  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Richardson,  of  Pittsford,  Rev. 
Silas  C.  Brown  and  delegate  Jonathan  Smith,  Rev.  Robert 
W.  Hill,  of  East  Bloom.'ield  ;  Rev.  Samuel  Schaffer.  of  West 
Bloomfield,  delegates  William  Janes  and  William  Buffel.  Mr. 
Kay  appears  to  have  ministered  to  the  church  after  this  date 
and  until  July  3,  1S36. 

November  6,  1836.  Rev.  Jairus  Wilcox  entered  upon 
liis  ministry  here,  and  he  served  the  church  until  January 
14,  1838.  So  far  I  have  been  unable  to  secure  anything 
concerning  the  life  of  Mr.  Wilcox,  before  or  since  he  was  at 
Victor. 

October  19,  1837,  the  church  met  to  receive  a  commis- 
sion from  the  Presbytery  of  Ontario,  charged  with  the 
mission  of  dissolving  the  relation  subsisting  between  the 
church  and  Presbytery,  unless  the  church  could  agree  to 
become  Presbyterian  in  full.     The  commission  consisted  of 


44 

Rev.  John   Barnard,   D.   D.,   Rev.   Caleb   Burge  and    Elder 
Raymond. 

The  church  declined  the  conditions  and  returned  to  its 
previous  status,  an  independent  Congregational  church. 
Marcus  A.  Norton,  Belden  Seymour  and  Isaac  T.  Hollister 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  draw  up  a  constitution  and 
revise  the  confession  and  covenant.  The  committee 
reported  recommending  that  the  chutch  "  take  the  Holy 
Bible  as  its  constitution,  that  being,  so  far  as  the  observa- 
tion and  research  of  your  committee  have  extended,  the 
only  constitution  known  and  acknowledged  among  churches 
of  like  denomination."  It  is  evident  that  it  had  not  been  the 
misfortune  of  these  good  brethren  to  run  across  any  of  the 
hypothetically  inspired  New  Theology  advocates,  or  their 
faith  in  God's  word  might  have  been  impiously  shaken. 

Under  the  advice  of  a  council  convened  November  13, 
1837,  consisting  of  ministers,  Dr  Barnard,  Robert  W.  Hill, 
and  John  B.  Richardson,  the  old  confession  and  covenant 
were  added  to  the  above  mentioned  constitution;  All 
offices  in  the  church  were  declared  vacant  and  arrangements 
made  for  a  new  election.  (These  were  evidently  days  of 
organization  and  reorganization,  but  this  church  were  veterans 
in  ecclesiastical  warfare  and  revolutions,  and  it  tended  in  the 
end  to  a  more  settled  condition.) 

One  feature  of  the  new  order  was  a  committee  of  four, 
two  chosen  annually,  who  with  the  pastor  constituted  a 
committee  of  general  supervision  over  church  affairs, 
answering  to  the  present  session.  November  20,  1837,. 
John  Wells  and  Marcus  A.  Norton,  were  elected  deacons. 
Samuel  Talimadge  and  J.  W.  Peet,  were  elected  members  of 
the  standing  committee  to  serve  one  year,  and  Isaac  T. 
Hollister  and  Hiram  Seymour,  to  serve  for  two  \'ears. 
Albert  Simondswas  elected  clerk. 

June  20,  1838,  this  church  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Furman,  at  a  salary  of  $500.  which  in  those  days  was 
considered  liberal.  Mr.  Farman's  acceptance  of  the  call 
was  not  formally  received  until  June  15,  1840. 


45 

Rev.  Charles  Edwin  Furman,  D.  D.,  was  born  in 
Clinton,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  December  13,  1801.  His 
father  came  from  Newton,  L.  I.,  and  his  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  John  Gazlay,  of  "Nine  Partners,"  N.  Y- 
About  1805  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Saratoga  County, 
near  Ballston  Centre,  which  church  he  joined  in  1821. 
There  his  parents  lived  and  died.  He  graduated  from 
Union  College  in  1826;  studied  two  years  at  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary,  entering  the  middle  class,  and 
graduating  in  1828.  Was  licensed  June  1828.  Was  an 
agent  of  the  American  Tract  Society  in  Ohio,  from  1828 — 
1829.  He  then  went  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  where  he 
spent  a  year  organizing  a  Presbyterian  Church,  being  the 
first  minister  who  preached  there.  He  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Cayuga  at  Skaneateles,  June  17,  1830,  and 
settled  at  Clarkson,  N.  Y.,  July  i,  1830,  where  heremamed  5^ 
years.  January  19,  1831,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Emeline 
Johnson,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.\  Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney, 
officiating.  The  Clarkson  church  was  much  blessed  by  his 
ministry.  From  Clarkson  he  was  urged  to  go  to  Hamilton, 
Canada,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1837,  the 
insurrection  in  Canada,  known  as  the  Patriot  War,  caused 
him  to  move  his  family  to  Rochester,  where  he  remained 
during  the  following  winter,  supply  in  the  Brick  church. 
The  first  Sabbath  in  March,  1838,  he  began  his  ministry  in 
Victor,  where  he  remained  until  April,  1846.  His  labors 
here  were  greatly  blessed,  and  151  members  were  added  to 
the  roll  during  his  ministry. 

From  Victor  he  went  to  Medina,  1846-54.  In  1852, 
his  health  failing  through  Bronchial  and  other  troubles, 
he  held  on  until  May,  1854,  when  he  resigned  and  went 
to  Rochester  to  live. 

While  here  he  was  employed  by  the  American  Bible 
Societ}'  for  five  years. 

Afterwards  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  church  at 
Chili  for  two  years  and  subsequently  the  church  at  Brighton 


46 

for  one  year.  December  i,  i860,  his  wife  was  summoned 
to  Heaven,  and  on  account  of  feeble  health,  he  spent  some 
time  in  traveling  with  his  youngest  daughter. 

He  lived  a  year  with  his  eldest  daughter,  in  Buffalo, 
and  in  May,  1866,  upon  the  marriage  of  his  youngest 
daughter,  now  Mrs.  Martin  Briggs,  he  went  to  live  with 
her  at  Rochester,  until  on  June  10,  1880,  God  took  him. 

His  first  year  in  this  new  home  of  his  daughter,  was 
one  of  sickness,  during  which  his  Bible  was  his  constant 
companion.  He  would  pore  over  it,  expressing  his  delight 
with  its  beautiful  and  precious  truth.  Recovering  from 
this  illness  he  again  entered  the  pulpit.  This  time  the 
Gates  church  was  benefited  by  his  ripened  ministrations 
for  more  than  two  years.  Then  he  returned  to  his  former 
charge  at  Clarkson,  where  he  remained  for  more  than  two 
years,  until  May,  1872.  So  long  as  his  health  endured,  he 
was  in  the  field,  at  work  for  the  master,  preaching  as 
opportunity  offered.  Early  in  his  ministry  he  served  as 
clerk,  was  temporary  clerk  of  the  Synod  of  Geneva  for 
two  years,  and  for  more  than  twenty-five  years  was  its 
permanent  clerk.  Was  stated  clerk  of  Niagara  Presbytery 
for  ten  years,  and  about  as  many  years  of  the  Rochester 
Presbytery.  In  the  "  Half  Century  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Rochester,"  (memorial  services  in  the  Brick  church,  1869) 
is  a  poem  by  him,  written  for  the  occasion,  and  entitled 
"  The   Pastor." 

He  received  D.  D.  from  Hamilton  College  in  1878. 
During  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  great  and  patient 
sufferer,  and  yet  found  time  to  publish  two  books  entitled 
respectively  "Home  Scenes"  (1874),  and  "Valley  of  the 
Genesee"  (1879)  '^^'^  several  occasional  poems.  Shortly 
before  his  death,  he  wrote  of  his  several  charges,  "Among  them 
all  I  have  been  familiar  since  leaving,  and  from  them  have 
received  universal  expressions  of  affection  :  have  often  been 
called  to  participate  in  their  joys  and  sympathize  with  them 
in  sorrows  ;  and  tiince  I  am  old,  have  been  treated  as  a  father 


47 

as  well  as  a  brother.  I  feel  unworthy  of  their  esteem, 
because  of  the  too  feeble  efforts  in  services  for  my  master, 
and  the  few  returns  I  will  be  able  to  make  when  called  to 
render  an  account  of  my  stewardship.  If  anything  I  have 
done  has  been  approved  and  blessed  of  God,  it  has  been 
because  of  the  gracious  presence  of  His  Spirit,  attending 
so  humble  a  means,  blessing  so  feeble  .an  instrumentality, 
and  counteracting  the  influence  of  so  many  faults  and 
imperfections."  His  tomb  is  in  Mount  Hope  Cemetry, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  had  five  children  :  three  daughters 
and  two  sons. 


March  22,  1843,  ^^e  duties  of  the  committee  of  advice 
and  pastoral  assistance  were  made  to  include  the  visitation 
of  each  family  in  their  respective  districts  at  least  twice 
each  year.  This  is  part  of  the  Sessional  oversight  under 
the  present  church  government,  and  upon  its  faithful 
performance  largely  depends  the  spiritual  prosperity  of  the 
church.  The  minister  has  his  own  peculiar,  pastoral  work 
to  perform,  but  there  is  a  sphere  of  such  work  for  the 
eldership,  which  the  minister  cannot  reach. 

This  church  planted  itself  squarely  against  slavery,  by 
the  action  it  took  in  December,  1843,  declaringthat  "Slavery 
as  it  exists  in  this  country,  is  a  moral,  social,  and  political  evil. 
An  evil  that  results  in  oppression,  ignorance,  licentiousness, 
and  heathenism;  and  hence  in  the  ruin  of  immortal  souls; 
and  therefore  ought  to  be  abolished  immediately." 

It  took  strong  ground  against  christians  abetting  this 
evil,  and  appealed  to  the  church  to  use  its  prayers  and 
influence  for  the  suppression  of  the  traffic. 

The  March  communion  season,  1846,  was  the  end  of 
Mr.  Furman's  pastorate. 


He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  M.  Merwin,  who 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  in  May  1846,  and  was 
installed  by  an   ecclesiastical  council,  Nov.  10,  1846. 


48 

The  council  consisted  of  Rev.  Robert  W.  Hill,  of  East 
Bloomfield,  and  delegate  Andrew  Cone,  Rev.  Maltby 
Gelston,  Rushville,  and  delegate  George  Thorpe,  Rev.  N. 
W.  Fisher,  Palmyra,  and  delegate  R.  G.  Pardee,  Rev.  J. 
B.  Richardson,  of  Pittsford,  and  delegate  George  Eddy, 
Rev.  O.  E.  Daggett,  of  Canandaigua,  and  delegate  L.  B. 
Tousley ;  Rev.  A.  T.  Rankin,  of  Mendon,  and  delegate 
Ezra  Sheldon ;  Rev.  C.  \V.  Gilman,  of  P'airport  and  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Furman,  of  Medina.  "  Bro.  R.  S.  Crampton 
being  present  was  invited  to  sit  with  the  council. 

Rev.  Mr.  Rankin,  read  the  Scriptures  and  offered  the 
introductory  prayer. 

Rev.  Mr.  Fisher  preached  the  sermon. 

Rev.    Mr.   Richardson   offered    the  installation   prayer. 

Rev.  Mr.  Gelston   gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor. 

Rev.  Dr.  Daggett  the  right  hand   of  fellowship. 

Rev.  Mr.  Furman  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Rev.  Mr.  Gillman  the  concluding  prayer. 

Mr.  Hill  was  moderator,  and  Dr.  Daggett,  scribe. 

Rev.  Charles  Meruin,  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Conn. 
October  i,  1810.  In  1827,  he  united  with  the  church  in 
Richmond  N.  Y.  He  studied  at  the  University  of  New 
York  city.  Married  Miss  Amelia  Oliphant,  of  Auburn, 
Aug.  20,  1840;  and  Miss  Sarah  T.  Randall,  of  Lewiston, 
Oct.  21,  1870.  He  graduated  at  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary  in  1840.  Was  ordained  and  installed  at  Sodus, 
N.  Y.  by  the  Presbytery  of  Geneva,  Febuary  18,  1842. 
Was  settled  at  Sodus,  1 841-6;  at  Victor,  1847-9;  Columbus 
Ind.  1850;  Lexington,  Miss.  1852-3;  Panama,  N.  Y.  1854-5; 
Georgetown,  Ohio,  1855-7;  Amesville,  1858-64;  Pomeroy, 
1865-8;  Lewiston,  N.  Y.  1868-70;  Dresden,  Ohio,  1 870-1 
Unionville,  la.,  1871-2  :  Malvern,  1872-5;  and  the  minutes 
of  1888  record  him  as  honorably  retired  and  residing  at 
Tabor,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Merwin  remained  with  the  church  until  Aug.  7, 
1849,  when  the  following  council  dissolved  the  pastoral 
relation. 


49 

Rev.  L.  W.  Billington,  moderator,  Fairport,  and  delegate 
Cyrus  Leonard,  Rev.  J.  B.  Richardson,  and  delegate  John 
Eckler;  Rev.  R.  W.  Hill,  and  delegate  George  W.  Allen; 
Rev.  Henry  W.  Taylor,  and  delegate  L.  B.  Tousley  ;  Rev. 
Thomas  Belamy,  Penfield,  Rev.  A.  G.  Hall,  3d  ch. 
Rochester,  also  present  Rev.  Charles  Merwin,  and  Messrs. 
Albert  Simonds  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Palmer,  Committee. 

January  6,  1850,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered 
by  Rev.  A.  Van  H.  Powell,  who  appears  to  have  continued 
to  supply  the  church  and  on  June  15,  1850,  the  society 
instructed  the  trustees  to  employ  him  for  an  indefinite  time, 
iind  he  continued  in  charge  of  the  pulpit  until  after  March 
2,  1 85 1.  We  have  been  unable  to  find  anything  further 
•concerning  Mr.  Powell. 

July  8,  1851,  the  trustess  were  authorized  to  employ 
Rev.  Calvin  Waterbury.  He  continued  without  installation 
until  October  21,  1852,  when  the  congregation  renewed  the 
■call  with  a  view  to  his  installation,  and  on  the  succeeding 
November  4,  at  10  A.  M  he  was  installed  b}-  the  following 
■Council. 

Rev.  Dr.  O.  E.  Daggett,  moderator.  Rev.  Job  Pierson 
.Jr.,  scribe,  Deacon  W.  M.  Chipman,  delegate  from  Canan- 
daigua,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Kendall,  delegate  Andrew  Cone, 
Rev.  Dr.  James  B.  Shaw.  Re\'.  R.  Harrington,  of  the  East 
Genesee  Conference,  was  invited  to  sit  as  corresponding 
member.  Mr.  Waterbury  was  a  meinber  of  the  Rochester 
Presbytery. 

Rev.  R.  Harrington,  read  the  Scripture  and  offered 
the  opening  prayer. 

Rev.    Dr.    Daggett    preached    the    sermon. 

Rev.  Dr.  Kendall  offered  the  installation  prayer  and 
i^ave  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Rev.  Dr.  Shaw  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor. 

Rev.  Job.  Pierson  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  and 
•concluding  prayer. 

Benediction  by  the  pastor. 

Mr.  Waterbury's  pastoral   relation  terminated   August 


50 

lO,  1855.  Previously  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  July  24, 
1855,  when  Mr.  Waterbury  presented  his  resignation, 
resolutions  were  adopted  of  which  the  following  is  the 
substance. 

Mr.  Waterbury  being  about  to  leave  this  place  which 
he  has  filled  with  "  honor  to  himself  and  profit  to  us." 

Rcsoh'cd,  That  in  accepting  his  resignation  we  can  but 
record  our  testimony  to  the  faithfulness  and  success  with 
which  he  has  discharged  his  duties  while  among  us.  That 
with  great  reluctance  we  consent  to  severing  relations  which 
have  proved  so  agreeable,  and  we  trust  so  profitable  to  all. 

The  ecclesiastical  council  convened  August  15,  1855,  at 
10  A.  M.,  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  consisted  of  Rev. 
Dr.  James  B.  Shaw%  moderator,  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Billington^ 
clerk.  Also  Rev.  Job  Pierson,  Jr.,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Kendall, 
Rev.  O.  C.  Beardsley,  David  Dickey,  John  Eckler,  J.  \'.  W. 
Annin,  M.  Adams,  of  East  Bloomfield,  and  H.  Allen.  The 
council  declared  that  with  deep  regret  it  consented  to  the 
dissolution  of  a  relation  which  has  so  happily  existed  between 
pastor  and  people,  yet  concurred  in  the  will  of  the  great 
head  of  the  church,  which  had  evidently  called  him  to 
another  field,  and  cordially  commended  him  to  the  warm  sym- 
pathies and  earnest  co-operation  of  the  ministry  and 
churches,  as  a  zealous  and  devoted  servant  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  eminently  qualified  to  proclaim  the  gospel. 

Rev.  Calvin  Waterbury,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Water- 
bury, was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  and 
was  born  in  Middletown,  Deleware  County,  N.  Y.,  April  21, 
1809.  His  early  life  was  given  to  Christ  and  soon  after  he 
turned  his  heart  to  the  ministry.  He  received  his  theologi- 
cal education  at  Lane  and  Auburn  seminaries;  one  year  at 
the  former  and  two  years  at  the  latter,  where  he  graduated 
in  1836.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Miss  Priscilla  Betts^ 
of  Franklin,  N.  Y.,  January  8,  1S36,  and  for  his  second  wife 
Mrs.  Ann  P.  Bachmann  Phipps,  September  19,  1867.  Hin 
first  charge  was  at  Butternuts,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.;  was 
pastor   at    Gilbertsville,    N.    Y.,  8  years.  First  Presbyterian 


51 

church,  Freeport,  111.,  1842-7,  Victor,  N.  Y.,  July  8,  1851  to 
Aug.  15,  1885,  Bergen,  N.  Y..  Knoxvillc,  111.,  Cedar  Falls, 
Iowa,  .lonesboro  and  Kingsport,  Tenn.  He  died  at  his 
home,  Rptherwood,  Tenn.  January  3,  1874.  In  a  short 
obituary  of  him.  it  is  stated  that  he  was  "a  man  of  earnest 
life  and  warm  heart,'"  and  '"leaves  loving  friends,  at  every 
scene  of  his  labors."  An  extract  from  the  minutes  of 
Holston  Presbytery,  Synod  of  Tennessee  declares  that  "he 
was  a  man  of  very  strong  convictions,  and  whatever  he  felt 
was  duty,  in  that  he  engaged  with  all  his  might.  Believing 
that  education  was  the  true  handmaid  of  religion,  he  was 
found,  where  he  went,  an  ardent  and  zealous  worker  in  that 
cause.  He  was  a  man  of  indomitable  will;  difficulties  never 
deterred  him.  He  had  a  \'ery  strong  and  abiding  faith  in 
the  promises  and  truth  of  God.  No  dispensations  of  his 
providences  ever  seemed  to  cause  him  to  doubt.  In  later 
life,  he  seemed  to  have  the  most  perfect  assurance  of  his 
acceptance  through  Christ,  and  his  sickness  and  death  were 
a  triumphant  manifestation  of  the  power  of  grace."  "With 
this  implicit  faith  in  Christ  he  fell  asleep.  Truly  the 
righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death."  The  same  Presbytery 
resolved,  "that  we  will  miss  the  valuable  council  and  wisdom 
of  our  deceased  brother  in  our  Presbyterial  meeting.  We 
record  our  grateful  sense  of  the  divine  favor  in  having 
granted  to  him  so  happy  and  triumphant  a  translation  to 
the  church  above." 

January  7,  1856,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Charles 
C.  Carr,  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  year. 

Rev.  Charles  Carrol  Carr,  the  son  of  Elijah  Carr,  and 
Catharine  Williams,  was  born  in  Romulus,  Seneca  County, 
N,  v..  March  22,  1812.  His  father  was  of  Scotch,  and  his 
mother  of  German  descent.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until 
nineteen  years  old,  then  taught  school  two  and  a  half  years. 
May  183I,  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Romulus, 
Rev.  Morris  Barton,  pastor.  Mr.  Carr  prepared  for  college 
at     the    Geneva     Lyceum,    beginning   August,     1833.      He 


52 

Ljrad-iated  from  Union  College  in  1838,  and  from  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary  in  1841.  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled overthe  Presbyterian  church  at  Horseheads.  June  30, 
1 841,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chemung.  He  resigned  this 
charge  April  i,  1856,  preached  six  months,  or  more,  at 
Victor,  as.  pastor  elect,  and  afterwards  was  pastor  at  Painted 
Post,  two  years  and  eight  months;  was  settled  at  Burdett, 
three  years  and  eight  months.  April  i,  1863,  again  became 
pastor  at  Horseheads,  remaining  there  until  June  30,  i885, 
when  he  was  made  pastor  emeritus,  since  then  has  been 
stated  supply  at  Breesport  and  SullivanvMlle,  near  Horse- 
heads 

August  24,  1 841,  he  married  Miss  Eleanor  Folwell  of 
Romulus,  who  died  January  i,  1863.  March  30,  1864,  he 
married  Mrs.  O.  M.  Cheever,  of  Hector.  Mr.  Carr  has  been 
connected  with  the  Chemung  Presbytery  during  his  entire 
ministry,  and  was  its  stated  clerk  and  tieasurer  for  more 
than  38  years. 

The  contract  with  Mr.  Carr  terminated,  by  mutual 
consent,  October  20,  1856,  at  his  request. 


I  take  the  opportunity  to  remark  here  at  the  end  of 
this  period,  which  mirks  thi  transition  of  the  church  from 
(.'ongregationalism  to  Presbyterianism,  that  the  society 
records,  sc)  far  as  ihey  pretain  to  the  tempoialities,  and  were 
embraced  in  the  first  volume  of  such  records,  are  lost  ;  the 
second  volume  dating  from  June  15,  1839.  The  church  records 
are  complete  from  its  organization,  as  are  also  some  important 
documents  pretaining  to  the  temporalities. 

The  Act  of  Incorporation  on  file  in  the  County  (Klerk's 
office  (see  Appendix  A)  exhibits  the  fact  that  Jared  Bough- 
to.'i,  Joseph  Brace,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Hawley,  were  the  first 
trustees  elected  by  the  organization,  September  13,  1798. 
The  first  record  in  Volume  2,  is  of  the  annual  pew  renting, 
June  15,  1839.      '^'^'^  next  meeting  was  Aug.  15,  1839,  "^^'hen 


53 

Rev.  Mr.  Furman  stated  that  the  object  of  the  meeting 
was  to  take  measures  to  procure  a  parsonage. 

September  12,  1839,  ^^e  trustees  were  authorized  to 
purchase  parsonage  and  lot  for  $975,  and  repair  the  building. 

December  5,  1848,  the  trustees  were  authorized  to 
locate  and  build  sheds  for  the  accommodation  of  the  con- 
gregation, when  called  for. 

October  3,  1853,  the  society  received  a  communication 
from  Mr.  Nathan  Jenks,  in  accord  with  its  action  of  Decem- 
ber 6,  1852,  and  September  21,  1853,  by  which  a  final 
settlement  with  Mr.  Jenks  was  effected  as  to  land  deeded 
by  him  to  the  church. 

October  17,  1855,  the  trustees  were  authorized  to  sell 
such  portion  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  parsonage  premises 
not  exceeding  one-half  with  the  barn,  at  such  price,  and  on 
such  terms  as  in  their  judgdment  will  best  promote  the 
interests  of  said  society.  It  was  such  sale  that  probably 
established  the  present  eastern  line  of  the  parsonage 
property. 

In  order  to  change  its  corporate  title  to  the  "  North 
East  Congregational  Society  in  the  town  of  Bloomfield," 
the  society  was  re-incorporated  December  2,  181 1,  and 
Abijah  Williams,  Ebenezer  Bements,  Erastus  Ingersoll, 
Thomas  Beach,  M.  D.  and  Abraham  Boughton,  were  elected 
trustees. 

The  society  is  now  entitled,  "The  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Victor."     This  is  its  present    corporate  title. 

December  8,  1856,  the  church  called  Rev.  Job  Pierson, 
Jr.,  of  Pittsford,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Job  Pierson  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Schaghticoke, 
Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  February  3,  1824.  After  a  pre- 
paratory education  at  Bennington,  Vt,  and  Troy,  N.  Y., 
he  graduated  from  Williams  College  in  1842,  He  then 
spent  two  years  in  his  father's  law  office,  and  entered 
Auburn  Theological  Seminary  in  1844,  from  which  he 
graduated     in    1847.     ^^^     1846,     he  was    licensed    by    the 


54 

Presbytery  of  Chenango.  After  leaving  the  Seminary,  he 
was  stated  supply  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Corning  for 
about  two  years.  In  the  summer  of  1850  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Pittsford,  N.  Y,  Here 
on  February  12,  1851,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  Rochester  Presbytery,  In  1856,  he  resigned  his  charge 
at  Pittsford,  and  went  abroad    to  England  for  his  health. 

Returning  in  the  fall  of  1856,  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Congregational  church  at  Victor,  N.  Y.,  which  during 
his  ministry  there,  changed  its  government  to  Presbyterian, 
In  the  summer  of  1863,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Kalamazoo, 
Mich,  where  he  labored  five  years.  In  1868,  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Ionia,  Mich. 

His  health  failing^  he  resigned  this  charge  in  July,  1878, 
and  retired  from  the  active  work  of  the  ministry.  Since  then 
he  has  resided  at  Ionia,  being  engaged  in  literary  work 
connected  with  the  ''  New  English  "  and  the  "Stamford" 
dictionary,  now  in  course  of  publication  in  England  ;  and 
occasionally,  he  supplied  churches  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Ionia. 

In  1849,  ^^'-  Pierson  married  Miss  Rachel  W.  Smith, 
of  Geneva,  N.  Y.  by  whom  he  has  had  five  children,  one 
daughter  (being  the  eldest),  and  four  sons.  The  two 
youngest  sons  were  born  in  Victor.  All  his  children  are 
now  living.  In  1881,  he  received  the  degree  D.  D.  from 
Olivet  College,  Mich. 

It  was  after  thorough  and  prayerful  consideration  that 
the  church  determined  to  adopt  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
government.  At  a  meeting  held  February  24,  1858,  an 
informal  ballot  was  taken  with  only  one  dissenting  vote. 
Then  a  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  as  to  the 
effect  of  such  a  change  upon  the  title  to  the  church  property. 
Able  legal  counsel  was  consulted  and  a  satisfactory  opinion 
obtained. 

March  8,  1858,  the  following  resolution  was  unani- 
mously adopted  : 


ss 

Resolved ;  That  we  as  a  church  adopt  the  Presbyterian 
form  of  government  and  that  hereafter  we  be  known  as 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Victor." 

The  church  began  with  a  rotary  eldership  of  six 
members,  one  elder  to  go  out  of  office  each  year,  and 
another  to  be  elected  in  his  place.  This  was  subsequently 
changed  December  19,  1866,  to  a  permanent  eldership. 

At  the  first  election  the  following  named  elders  were 
chosen:  Samuel  Tallmadge,  Albert  Simonds,  George  W. 
Farnham,  D.  Henry  Osborne,  Salmon  Gorsline  and  Hiram 
Parks. 

At  the  same  meeting  Samuel  Tallmadge  and  Albert 
Simonds  were  elected  deacons  (March  8,  1858). 

The  ordination  of  these  officers  took  place  on  the 
Lord's  day,  April  4,  1858.  {See  Appendix  B.  for  roll  of 
Pastors,  Deaeojis,  Elders  and  Trustees.) 

The  church  was  received  into  the  Rochester  Presbytery 
at  its  spring  meeting,  beginning  April  6,  i8i;8.  Elder  D. 
Henry  Osborne  representing  the  church  and  presenting  its 
request  for  admission. 

Albert  Simonds  was  elected  clerk  of  session,  an  office 
he  has  held  continuously  to  the  present  day,  and  still 
holds;  his  son,  C.  Lewis  Simonds  having  been  elected 
assistant  clerk. 

The  first  preparatory  lecture  under  the  new  govern- 
ment was  held  Friday,  April  2,  1858,  at  which  was  adminis- 
tered the  first  infant  baptism  under  the  new  government, 
being  that  of  Cora  Bushnell,  daughter  of  D.  Henry  and 
Lovina  A.  Osborne. 

The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  and  elders 
ordained  on  April  4,  1858,  by  Rev.  Job  Pierson. 

The  total  number  of  communicants  at  this  time  was 
100.  Already  in  its  past  history  the  membership  had  at 
one  time  been  over  200.  It  varied  greatly  from  time  to 
time.  In  1884  it  was  129.  It  is  at  present  over  200.  Rev. 
Mr.    Pierson    was    installed    at    Victor   by    the    Rochester 


56 


Presbytery  June  19,  1862.  About  one  year  afterwards,  on 
September  14,  1863,  he  presented  his  resignation  and 
requested  the  church  to  concur  with  him  in  asking  Presby- 
tery to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation.  This  the  church 
reluctantly  consented  to  do,  assuring  him  and  his  family 
that  they  would  '•  ever  cherish  with  gratitude,  the  remem- 
brance of  their  devoted    and  faithful  labors   among   them." 

Mr.  Pierson  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  Kalamazoo, 
Mich. 

December  21,  1863,  the  church  called  Rev.  William  H. 
Webb. 

Rev.  William  Henry  Webb,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Homer, 
N.  Y.,  June  7,  1833.  He  was  the  fourth  child  of  Curtis 
Webb,  a  native  of  New  London  County,  Connecticut,  who 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  moved  to  Homer,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  married  Margaret  Hitchcock. 

The  early  life  of  Rev.  William  Webb  was  spent  upon 
the  farm  at  Homer.  Until  14  years  old,  he  attended  the 
public  school,  and  then  entered  the  Cortland  academy. 
Here  he  graduated  as  valedictorian  of  his  class,  in  1854, 
united  in  1853  with  the  Congregational  church  at  Homer. 
In  1855  heentered  the  Sophomore  class  at  Hamilton  College 
and  graduated  an  "honor  man"  in  1858.  The  same  year 
he  entered  Auburn  Seminary  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1861.  In  the  second  year  of  his  Semmary  course  he  was 
licensed  by  the  "Ontario  Association,"  and  supplied  vacant 
pulpits  during  his  Senior  year.  After  leaving  the  Seminary 
he  was  settled  over  the  Congregational  church  in  Niagara 
City,  N.  Y.;  was  ordained  and  installed  July  18,  1861,  by 
the  "Ontario  Association."  May  9,  1861,  he  married  Miss 
H.  Elizabeth  Prince,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  From  Niagara  City 
he  was  called  to  Victor  N.  Y.,  Dec  6,  1863.  October,  1865 
he  accepted  a  call  to  Michigan,  where  he  remained  nine 
years.  In  1 874  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Second  Pi  esbyterian 
church,  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  twelve  years. 
In  1883,  he  received  his   D.   D.    from   Wittenberg  College, 


57 


Springfield,  (^hio.  In  1886,  he  resigned  at  Springfield,  and 
is  at  present  residing  at  Auburn,  and  spending  much  of 
his  winters  in  Florida,  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  has 
only  one  son  living,  Francis  William  Webb,  and  has  lost 
three  children.  At  the  time  this  sketch  was  written,  he  was 
supplying  a  church  in  Florida.  Mr.  Webb's  pastorate  at 
Victor  closed  October  22,  1865. 

January  15,  1866,  the  church  called  Rev.  Gideon  P. 
,  Nichols,  at  a  salary  of  $1000,  and  parsonage.  This  marks 
another  advance  by  the  church,  in  the  matter  of  ministerial 
support. 

Rev.  Gideon  Parsons  Nichols,  D.  D.,  the  only  child  of 
Abiel  and  Jerusha  Parsons  Nichols,  was  born  July  30,  1837, 
in  Windsor,  Berkshire  County,  Mass,  He  received  his 
preparatory  education  at  Geneseo  Academy,  N.  Y.  under 
the  Principalship  of  the  Rev.  James  Nichols.  He  graduated 
from  Union  College,  N.  Y.  in  i860.  After  spending  two 
years  as  a  teacher  of  Greek  and  Latin  in  the  Seminary  at 
Warnerville,  N.  Y.,  he  entered  Princeton  Theological  Sem- 
inary where  he  graduated  in  1865.  His  first  pastorate 
was  Victor,  N.  Y.  where  he  was  called  in  May  1866.  From 
Victor,  he  was  called  in  1869  to  the  Olivet  Presbyterian 
church,  Chicago,  111.  While  preaching  in  Chicago,  and  before 
his  acceptance  of  the  call,  he  was  invited  to  the  pastorate 
of  Immanuel  church,  Milwaukee,  which  call  he  accepted. 
In  June,  1871  he  was  married  to  Miss  Delia  B.  Nichols  of 
Rochester,  N,  Y.  He  resigned  his  charge  at  Milwaukee  in 
1881.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was-  called  to  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  of  which  he  is 
still  the  pastor.  He  received  D.  D.  from  Lake  Forest 
University,  in  1880. 

Mr.  Nichols  left  Victor  after  August  8,  1869.  His 
ministry  had  been  fruitful  of  conversions,  and  he  had 
endeared  himself  to  the  church.  August  22,  1870,  the 
church  voted  to  recall  Mr.  Nichols  at  salary  of  $1,500, 
but  the  call  was  declined. 


58 

It  was  at  this  meeting  Col.  Lewis  made  his  offer  of  a 
$2,000  organ,  if  the  society  would  include  in  its  contem- 
plated improvements  a  place  for  the  organ. 

Rev.  Louis   Bodwell,  of  Topeka,   Kansas,  and   at   the 
time   residing  at   the    Sanitarium,  Clifton  Springs,    N.  Y. 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  about  a  year  from  February  6,  1870. 

March  20,  1871,  the  church  called  Rev.  Henry  T. 
Miller,  at  a  salary  of  $1,200  and  parsonage.  Mr.  Miller  was 
ordained  and  installed  by  the  Rochester  Presbytery  June  i, 
1871. 

Rev.  Henry  Thaddeus  Miller,  a  son  of  Nathaniel  B.  and 
Sophia  Miller,  was  born  in  Tuscarora,  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.,  August  17,  1842.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Lima, 
N.  Y.,  united  with  the  Brick  (Pres.)  Church,  Rochester, 
June  2,  1867.  Graduated  from  Rochester  University  in 
1868,  and  from  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  in  1871.  He 
married  Miss  Jennie  Kennedy,  of  New  York  City,  October 
17,  1871. 

His  first  settlement  was  at  Victor,  where  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Rochester,  June 
1,1871.  Here  heremained  until  June  I,  1873.  From  Victor 
he  went  to  Medina,  N.  Y.,  1873 — 5,  then  to  Chicago,  111.; 
6th  Presbyterian  Church  from  1875—82.  From  Chicago  to 
Fort  Street,  Presbyterian  Church,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Mr.  Miller  found  the  church  with  a  membership  of  172, 
which  was  increased  during  his  ministry,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  call  to  Medina,  numbered  205. 

October  25,' 1873,  the  church  called  Rev.  William  B. 
Marsh,  of  Huron,  Wayne  County,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  William  Blackmore  Marsh,  was  born  in  Truro,  N. 
S.,  October  26,  1844.  His  father,  Moses  Marsh,  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  descended  from  Alexander 
Marsh,  who  settled  at  Ouincy,  Mass.  in  1650. 

His  mother,  Hannah  Blackmore,  was  born  in  Truro,  N. 
.S.  When  seven  years  old,  William  went  with  his  parents 
to  Chelsea,   Mass.  where    he  received    his  early  schooling. 


59 

When  about  ii  years  old,  he  went  to  pursue  his  studies 
with  his  brother,  who  was  teachhig  in  Carroll  College, 
Waukesha,  Wis.  Here  he  remained  five  years,  graduating 
in  1 860.  He  graduated  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
in  1863.  Princeton  College  gave  him  A.  M.  in  1863.  He 
was  licensed  by  New  Brunswick  Presbytery  April,  1865. 
Was  agent  of  U.  S.  San,  Com.  '64 — '65,  and  ■  was  with 
Gen.  Grant's  army,  and  afterwards  in  Shenandoah  Valley 
under  Sheridan,  was  in  charge  of  the  relief  at  Winchester 
after  the  battle  of  Opequam  Creek,  where  many  were 
wounded,  and  was  acting  chief  clerk  of  San.  Com. 
office  at  Washington,  at  the  time  Early  menaced  the 
Capitol.  Subsequently  was  sent  north  to  interest  the 
people  in  the  work.  He  presented  this  cause  through 
Pennsylvania  and  the  New  England  States.  After  the  war  he 
entered  the  Home  Mission  field,  was  in  charge  of  Presbyte- 
rian churches  at  Oilman  and  Piper  City,  111.  from  '65 — ^(^j, 
being  the  first  and  only  minister  in  a  tract  25  miles  square* 
In  two  years  a  church  building  and  parsonage  were  erected. 
He  was  ordained  an  evangelist  at  Bloomington,  111.,  April 
25,  1866.  With  a  brother,  since  become  a  minister,  and  a 
sister,  now  a  missionary  to  Morioka,  Japan,  Mr.  Marsh 
settled  at  Northfield   and    Bedford,  Ohio,  '6^ — '71. 

September  5,  1867,  he  married  Elvira  Ann  Means. 
He  was  S.  S.  at  Huron,  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.  '71 — '73, 
Pastor  at  Victor.  December  7,  1873,  to  November  22,  1875. 
From  Victor  he  was  called  to  Tallmadge,  Ohio.  (Congre- 
gational church)  where  he  remained  ten  years.  From 
Tallmadge,  in  1885  he  removed  to  Burton,  Geauga  County, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Marsh  had  four  children,  two  boys  and  two 
girls,  all  are  living. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  at  Victor,  held  November 
15,  1875,  ^'^'^-  Marsh  gave  notice  of  his  resignation  to  accept 
a  call  to  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  and  requested  the  concurrence  of 
the  church. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  testifying  to  the  faithfulness 
and  efficiency  of  Mr.  Marsh,  and  especially  to  his  efforts  in 


6o 


the  interest  of  Christian  Missions.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  Marsh,  and  on  October  i,  1875,  the  session  instituted 
measures  for  the  organization  of  a  town  Bible  Society,  and 
sought  co-operation  from  the  other  evangeHcal  churches  in 
the  town. 

Rev.  Robert  Ennis  began  his  ministry  at  Victor, 
February  12,  1876.  On  April  24,  1876,  after  a  season  of 
revival,  the  church  called  Mr.  Ennis  to  become  its  pastor- 
Mr.  Ennis  accepted  conditionally  without  installation. 

Rev.  Robert  Ennis,  eldest  son  of  Joseph,  and  Ruth 
Ann  Ennis,  was  born  at  Perth  Centre,  Fulton  County,  N. 
Y.  June  25,  I  841.  When  two  years  old,  his  parents  moved  to 
Princetown,  Schenectady  County,  N.  Y.  and  settled  on  a 
farm.  He  joined  the  united  Presbyterian  church,  Florida, 
N.  Y.  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  George  M.  Hall,  in  1854, 
together  with  twenty-four  young  men.  He  had  a  strong 
desire  at  that  time  to  enter  the  ministry,  but  his  parents 
being  in  straitened  circumstances  he  was  kept  at  work 
during  the  summers,  and  at  the  district  school  in  winter, 
until  nineteen  years  old,  when  he  entered  the  acad- 
emy at  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  to  prepare  for  college.  He 
graduated  from  Union  College  in  1867,  and  entered 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  that  same  Fall,  graduating 
there  in  1870.  He  was  pastor  elect  over  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Broadalbin,  Fulton  County,  N.  Y.  about  one  year. 
During  a  revival  there  his  health  failed,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  resign.  24  converts  were  the  fruit  of  his  short  ministr3^ 
In  November  1871,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Pequea,  Lancaster,  County  Pa.  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Westminster,  during  this  pastorate^^of 
three  years  and  a  half  about  200  united  with  the  church. 
At  the  beginning  of  1876,  while  conducting  meetings  at 
Chili,  N.  Y.  he  was  sent  to  supply  the  church  at  Victor, 
where  he  remained  from  February  12,  1876,  to  August  5, 
1877.  In  1878,  he  was  installed  over  the  West  End  Pres- 
byterian church,  at  West  Albany,  N.  Y.;  here  he  remained 


6i 

about  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1882,  he.  married  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  James  Scase,  and  in  the  fall  of  1883,  was 
sent  out  under  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  to  Madison, 
Dakota,  here  he  was  stated  supply  for  two  years,  when  the 
health  of  his  family  compelled  him  to  remove  to  Jackson- 
ville, Oregon.  He  is  at  present  supplying  the  Presbyterian 
churches  of  Jacksonville  and  Phcenix,  in  the  Presbytery  of 

Oregon. 

Mr.   Ennis  terminated  his   connection  with  the  Victor 

church,  August  5,  1877. 

Rev.  Thomas  E.  Babb.  began  to  supply  the  Victor 
church  November  26,  1877, 

January  14,  1878, the  church  called  him  to  the  pastorate. 
Mr.  Babb  accepted  the  call  to  take  effect  April  i,  1878. 

Rev.  Thomas.  Earle  Babb,  was  born  in  Orange,  N.  J. 
August  21,  1840,  and  was  the  son  of  William  G.  and  Anna 
Earl  Babb.  His  early  residence  and  education  were  in 
New  York  city.  Between  his  early  schooling  and  fitting 
for  college  he  served  three  years  as  a  clerk  in  New  York.  He 
prepared  for  college  at  the  New  York  University  Grammar 
School.  Graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1865,  studied  two 
years  in  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  and  one  }'ear  at 
Andover,  graduating  there  in  1868.  Taught  school  several 
terms,  during  college  and  seminary  course,  was  ordained 
January  19,  1869,  served  as  acting  pastor  of  Congregational 
church,  at  Eastport,  Maine,  from  September,  1868  to  May, 
1871,  and  as  pastor  at  Oxford,  Mass.  from  May,  1871,  to 
May.  1877.  Was  pastor  of  Presbyterian  church,  Victor,  N.  Y. 
from  March  1878,  to  June  1883;  and  was  the  acting  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  West  Brookfield,  Mass.  from 
June  1883,  where  he  is  at  the  present  time. 

September  28,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Augusta 
Cook,  of  Bangor.  Maine.  The  interval  between  his 
pastorate  at  Oxford  and  Victor  was  spent,  mostly,  at  the 
Sanitarium,  Clifton  Springs.  During  Mr.  Babb's  ministry 
,and  on  August  2,  1878,  the  session  voted  the  use  of 
unfermented    wine    for   the    communion    table.     In     1880, 


62 

$1,500  were  raised  to  pay  off  an  accumulated  debt. 
Whereupon  the  society  solemnly  pledged  itself  that  at  the 
time  of  seat-rentings  it  would  hereafter  be  as  liberal  as  able, 
and  prompt  in  its  payments,  to  the  end  thai  the  House  of  onr 
God  may  never  again  be  brought  under  the  reproach  of  debt. 
The  resolution  is  very  happily  worded,  there  being  no 
determination  to  be  niggardly  with  God  or  His  servants, 
but  to  come  up  liberally  to  the  measure  of  the  needs  of  His 
cause  and  church.  If  all  churches  would  honestly  pay  such 
vows  unto  God,  they  would  be  under  a  continuous 
shower  of  blessing. 

Mr.  Babb  resigned  his  charge  at  Victor,  to  accept  a  call 
to  Brookfield,  Mass.,  April  23,  1883.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
church,  held  for  the  purpose,  the  following  action  was  taken. 
I  give  only  an  extract : 

"  Although  we  deeply  deplore  the  loss  of  his  able 
ministrations  and  his  faithful  labors  of  love  among  us,  his 
upright  and  conscientious  life,  his  earnest  zeal  for  the  good 
of  the  people  of  his  charge  and  the  glory  of  the  Master  of 
the  Heavenly  Kingdom,  we  do  unite  with  him  in  requesting 
Presbytery  to  dissolve  his  relation  with  us,  that  he  may,  in 
obedience  to  the  Master's  call,  go  elsewhere  to  labor  in  the 
common  vineyard,  feeling  that  what  is  our  loss  will  be  to 
others  gain.  "'  To  this  was  added  affectionate  commenda- 
tion of  his  family  much  beloved. 

The  present  encumbent  received  a  call  from  the  church, 
October  15,  1883,  but  did  not  see  his  way  clear  to  accept, 
and  declined.  The  call  was  repeated  twice  thereafter,  the 
last  time  in  June,  1884,  and  was  accepted,  to  take  effect 
July  I,  1884.  Rev.  Clarence  Walworth  Backus,  the  son  of 
Rev.  Dr.  J,  Trumbell  Backus  and  Ann  E.  Walworth,  was 
born  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1846.  He  was 
educated  there  in  the  public  schools,  and  a  graduate  of 
Union  College  in  the  class  of  1870;  and  united  with  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  Schenectady,  June  24,  1866.  He 
spent  one  year  of  his  early  school  life  (1863)  at  the  Penn-^ 
sylvania    Military    Academy,     Westchester,    Pa.,    (now    at 


63 

Chester).  July  29,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  b\'  Governor 
Horatio  Seymour,  first  lieutenant  in  the  97th  New  York 
State  Volunteers,  and  was  immediately  assigned  to  duty  as 
aid  de  camp  on  the  staft"  of  General  M.  D.  Hardin, 
commanding  defenses  north  of  the  Potomac,  with  head- 
quarters at  Washington,  D.  C.  Subsequently,  at  his  own 
request,  on  November  11,  1864,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
staff  of  General  Wesley  Merritt,  commanding  cavalry  under 
General  Sheridan,  and  with  the  exception  of  about  two 
months  during  the  following  winter,  when  on  duty  in 
W'ashington,  he  remained  with  General  Merritt  in  Sheri- 
dan's command  until  after  Appomattox  and  the  review  at 
Washington.  He  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment, 
July  18,  1865.  He  spent  three  }-ears  at  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  and  on  April  30,  1873,  married 
Susan  Livingston  W^ashington,  daughterof  James  Augustine 
Washington,  M.  D.,  of  New  York  city.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Albany  Presbytery  at  New  Scotland,  June 
12,  1872.  In  May,  1873,  he  entered  upon  his  first  charge  at 
Northampton  and  Northville,  N.  Y.  He  was  ordained  at 
the  First  Presbyterian  church,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  June 
11,1873,  aricl  installed  at  Northampton,  July  23  1874. 
From  Northampton  he  went  to  Charlton,  October  17,  1876. 
PVom  there,  to  Princetown,  April  29,  1883,  and  to  Victor, 
July  I,  1884.  He  was  received  into  the  Rochester 
Presbytery,  at  Fowlerville,  on  September  16,  1884.  He 
served  that  Presbytery  as  Moderator  in  the  fall  of  1886,  and 
as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Assembly  at  Philadelphia  in 
1888. 

He  has  one  son    living,  Jonathan    Trumbull    Backus, 
born  at  Schenectady.  N.  Y.,  October  i,   1878. 

At  the  beginnmg  of  his  pastorate  the  church  numbered 
129  members,  and  so  far  the  Lord  has  blessed  this  ministr)'. 


October  3,  1884.     A  Confession  and  Covenant  in  accord 
with  the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  was  adopted. 


64 

January  30,  1880,  the  government  of  the  Sabbath  school 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Session,  in  accord  with  the 
deliverances  of  the  General  Assembly  and  Synod. 

December  2,  1887.  The  Sabbath  School  collections  on 
the  first  Sabbath  of  every  month  were  ordered  to  be  devoted 
to  missions. 

December  28,  1887.  The  control  of  the  church  music 
was  transferred  by  the  trustees  to  the  session,  and  a  sessional 
committee  on  music  appointed. 

November  21,  1887.  The  trustees  were  authorized  to 
secure  in  a  proper  and  legal  manner  the  change  of  the 
corporate  title  to,  "  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Victor," 
which  was  duly  effected. 

January,  1885.  The  Young  People's  Sabbath  evening 
prayer-meeting  was  established. 

February,  1886.  The  Young  People's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation was  organized,  and  the  following  year  on  February 
21,  1887,  it  was  re-organized  as  the  Young  People's  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor. 

The  Sabbath  School  Temperance  Society  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  was  organized  by  the  primary  depart- 
ment February  10,  1888.  It  involves  three  pledges,  one 
known  as  the  Liquor  Pledge.  A  second,  as  the  Tobacco 
Pledge.  A  third,  as  the  Purity  Pledge.  In  the  two  former, 
the  obligation  continues  until  the  signer  is  twenty-five  years 
old. 

The  badge  of  the  first  is  a  blue  ribbon,  of  the  second,  a 
red  ribbon,  of  the  third,  a  white  ribbon.  One  who  has  signed 
all  three  pledges,  has  a  red,  white,  and  blue  rosette  as  a 
badge. 

The  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  (Home  and  Foreign), 
was  organized  April,  1874. 

The  Children's  "  Lend  a  Hand  ""  Missionary  Band  was 
organized  1885,  ^^^  '-^  destined  to  become  absorbed  in 
the  Sabbath  School  Band. 


65 
CONFESSION  AND  COVENANT 

OF  THE 

First  Presbyterian  Ctiurcti,  of  Victor,  N.  Y. 

As  Subscribed  by  Persons  Joining  its  Communion. 

In  God's  House  to-day  and  recognizing  your  obligations 
to  Divine  Grace,  you  profess  to  hav^e  embraced  the  offer  of 
the  gospel,  and  relying  only  upon  Christ,  do  engage  to  be 
the  Lord's. 

Vou  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments, to  be  the  Word  oi  God,  and  the  only  infallible  rule 
of  faith  and  practice,  and  you  promise  to  make  them  your 
rule  of  faith  and  conduct. 

You   believe   in   the  Triune  Jehovah,  God  the   Father 
God  the  Son  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost. 

You  engage,  with  the  assistance  of  Divine  Grace,  to 
continue  in  the  maintenance  of  this  faith,  and  the  perform- 
ance of  all  the  duties  which  flow  therefrom;  in  the  diligent 
use  of  the  Divinely  appointed  means  of  Grace;  in  subjection 
to  the  constituted  authorities  of  this  Church;  in  the  peace, 
love  and  mutual  edification  of  the  brethren  ;  also  to  be 
"  zealous  of  good  works,"  and  not  conformed  to  the  world 
in  its  peculiar  principles  and  practices. 


This  oIJ  c'uiixli  has  weathered  its  own  peculiar  but 
sturdy  pasti  _A  v^eteran  in  Christian  warfare,  it  has  outrid- 
den miny  a  stonn,  a'ld  triumphed  again  and  again  over  the 
org.inized  opposition  of  Satan, 

God  has  given  to  its  Christian  effort  of  almost  one 
hundred  years,  many  precious  souls  as  seals  of  its  divine 
commission.  To-day  it  is  manned  by  strong  and  loyal 
Christim  heirt^,  andaboveall  God  is  with  it.  It  stands  the 
honoured  beacon  of  evangelicism,  linking  a  century  gone,  to 
the  centuries  that  are  and  are  to  follow;  its  religion  a 
cherished  heritage,  which  will  be  revered  and  loved  by  its 
membership,  from  generation  to    generation,  while  the  Sun 


C6 


endures.  May  its  sons  and  daughters  be  ever  loyal  and 
true,  not  only  to  the  church,  but  to  its  essential  feature,  the 
precious  Cross  of  Christ,  with  its  far  reaching  import. 

Blest  with  a  growing  past,  to  have  now  reached  its 
climax  would  forebode  decline.  That  past  is  the  strongest 
guarantee  of  an  enduring  future. 

The  Loyalty  to  Christ  of  the  early  settlers  of  Victor 
would  severely  reflect  upon  that  impiety  of  succeeding 
generations,  that  would  permit  Christ's  house  and  cause  to 
fall  into  neglect.  A  chu;ch  so  piously  founded,  and  so 
zealously  mantained  in  the  past,  is  endeared  as  a  heritage 
never  to  be  despoiled.  He  who  is  unfaithful  to  God-  in  his 
church  relations,  is  unfaithful  at  heart;  whose  disloyalty  and 
want  of  true  Christian  j)rinciple,  is  an  undercurrent  of 
curruption  that  will  crop  out  in  every  department  of  life. 
No  personal  feelings,  no  disappointments,  no  affiliations 
elsewhere,  will  affect  the  religious  devotion  of  every  loyal 
heart  to  this  church  of  their  forefathers  planting. 

It  is  God's  house,  the  temple  of  God's  worship,  in  the 
midst  of  its  Christian  honies.  How  it  appeals  to  every 
noble  Christian  impulse  and  principle!  Disrespect  to  God's 
worship  here,  and  neglect  of  the  respectable  maintenance 
of  His  House,  will  be  proof  of  the  individual  godlessness  of 
its  membership.  Its  worship,  outward  appearance,  and 
support,  mark  the  religious  character  of  the  homes  it 
represents.  In  being  loyal  to  Christ  and  this  church  the 
people  will  best  advance  their  own  and  their  children's 
interests.  In  disloyalty,  contentions,  and  neglect,  they  will 
reap  for  themselves  and  their  children,  God's  disfavor  both 
spiriti.ial  and  temporal.  The  success  of  a  church  is  not 
dependent  upon  any  one  man,  but  upon  the  piety  and 
devotion  of  its  people,  and  in  that  favor  of  God^  which  is 
their  life.  It  is  not  enough  to  be  satisfied  with  a  past,  the 
future  beckons  on  to  grander  achievement  and  more  en- 
durin"-  success. 


APPENDIX. 


Documents  Connected  with  the  Early   History  of 
THE  Presbyterian  Church. 

THE  first  document  was  presented  in  connection  with 
sketch  number  four,  and  was  a  certified  copy  of  the  Act 
of  Incorporation,  as  on  record  in  the  County  Clerk's  office  at 
Canandaigua. 

The  following  document  is  the  original  contract  between 
Rev.  Reuben  Parmele  and  the  Society.  A  fragment  of  the 
paper  is  missing,  and  the  part  still  remaining  is  much  torn. 
It  was  found  in  an  old  trunk  containing  papers  of  Deacon 
Abijah  Williams,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Robert 
Bruce  Moore.  I  will  insert  ( *  *  )  where  a  part  of  the 
document  is  missing  : 

DOCUMENT. 

"  Whereas,  On  the  thirteenth  day  of  September  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight,  a  number  of  persons  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town 
of  Bloomfield,  in  the  county  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New 
York,  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  said 
State  entitled  "an  Act  to  Enable  Religious  Denominations  to 
Appoint  Trustees,  etc.,  passed  the  6th  day  of  April.  1784," 
and  proceeded  to  form  themselves  into  a  religious  society 
by  the  name  and  style  of  "  The  North  Congregational 
Society  in  the  town  of  Bloomfield" ;  and 


68 

Whereas,  The  said  society  at  their  said  meeting  chose 
a  committee  to  wait  on  the  Reverend  Reuben  Parmele,  and 
give  him  a  call  to  come  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  said 
society,  and  to  offer  him  certain  terms  specified  in  the  vote 

of  the  said  society  as  per  record  will  appear ; 

and 

Whereas,  The  said   Mr.  Parmele  has  notified    to  the 

said  society  his  acceptance  of  the  said  specified  terms, 

.     Now,  therefore 

This  memorandum  of  an  agreement  made  and 
concluded  this  thirteenth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine,  between 
the  said  Reuben  Parmele  of  the  one  part,  and  Joseph  Brace. 
Jr.,  Thomas  Hawley  and  Jared  Boughton,  trustees  of  the 
said  society,  duly  and  legally  appointed,  of  the  other  part, 
witnesseth — that  the  said  Reuben  Parmele  being  this  day 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  said 
society,  is  to  do  and  perform,  all  and  singular,  the  duties 
and  functions  pertaining  to  the  office  of  a  regular  gospel 
minister  in  the  said  society,  excepting  and  reserving  to  the 
said  Mr.  Parmele  every  fourth  Sabbath  during  the  first  two 
years,  to  be  computed  from  the  twent}--first  day  of  January 
(1799)  ^  *  *  -:v  *  -:r  -:t  t;-  (Quite  a  large 
fragment  is  here  missing,  being  evidently  broken  out  by 
folding.)  "  "  "  ^  "  " 

"  Shall  give  four  months  previous  notice  to  the  other 
part}-  of  such  desire.  In  such  case  a  council  shall  be  called 
and  a  dissolution  take  place  without  any  ceremony." 

In  witness  to  the  above  agreement  the  parties  to  the 
above  agreement  have  interchangeably  set  their  hands  and 
seals  to  two  instruments  of  like  tenor  and  date. 

Reuben  Parmele.      [seal] 


Jr//M 


i'ssrs 


)  Zadock  Hunn. 
)  John  Rolph. 


Joseph  Brace, 
Jaked  Boughton, 
Thos.  Hawley, 

Trustees  to  said  Society. 


Another  document  is  the  assessment  roll,  equitably 
apportioning  to  each  pew  holder  his  part  of  the  society's 
indebtedness  upon  the  completion  of  the  old  church  on  the 
hill.     The  document  is  valuable  as  showing:  that  the  church 


69 


was  built  by  the  society  and  that  the  title  of  the  proprietors 
was  vested  in  their  pews,  which  they  owned  and  could 
dispose  of  at  their  pleasure,  but  not  so  as  to  divert  the 
property  from  its  legitimate  use  in  connection  with  the 
Congregational  Society.  This  document  is  also  valuable  as 
showing  who  were  so  connected  with  the  Congregational 
Society  at  the  time  the  assessment  was  made  : 
THE  DOCUMENT. 
An  assessment  of  taxes  on  each  proprietor  of  the 
meeting  house  in  the  North  Congregational  Society  in 
Bloomfield  with  a  view  of  making  an  equal  and  final  payment 
for  our  meetinp;-house  : 


NAMES. 

Bement,  Ebenezer     - 
Beach,  Thomas 
Brace,  Reuben    -      -     - 
Brace,  Joseph    - 
Boughton,  Nath'l     -     - 
Berry,    John     and  seat 

mate      .     .     -     -     - 
Boughton, Levi  and  seat 

mate      .     _     -     .     - 

and  mates 

Brooks,  Zerah    - 
Boughton,  Asahel 
J^oughton,  John       -     - 
Boughton,  Abm'  -     -     - 
Brace,  John    -     -     -     - 
Boughton,  Deforest  -   - 
Brooks,  Michael     - 
Brace,  Elisha     - 
Bougliton, Seymour  (2d)  2  76 
Boughton, Claudius  V, 
Boughton,  Jared 
Coan,   Elisha    -    .- 
Coton,  Andrew  -     - 
Dryer,  Simeon 
Dryer.  Rufus      -     - 
Dickinson,  Nath'l  O. 
Evarts.   Isaac  T.     - 
Griswold,  Solomon    - 
Hart,  Jabez    -     -     - 


TAX. 

$5  18 
I  46 

2  51 

3  97 

I  72 

I  33 

7  39 

I  09 

90 

-  91 
2  18 

■  548 
I  46 

■  91 
266 

-  3  32 
2  76 

■  I  33 

3  30 
2  64 
2  64 

-  I  72 

I  19 

342 
I  62 

I  46 

3  00 

Names. 


Tax. 


Hull,  Jeremiah     - 
Hawley,  Thomas     - 
Hart,    Harvey  -     - 
Hawley,  Abner    -     - 
Haney,  John     -     - 
Hathaway,  Isaac 
Ingersoll,  Erastus     - 
Ingersoll,  Elihu 
Ingersoll,  Thomas    ■ 
Low,  George     - 
Lobdell,  Jacob    -     - 
Lusk,  David 
Moore,  Asahel  -     - 
Moorehouse,  Josiah 
Marsh,  Isaac     - 
Perry,  Peter     - 
Perkins,  Sam'l  R.  - 
Pardy,  Silas   -     - 
Parmele,  Reuben  - 
Perkins,  Joseph     - 
Root,  Asa      -     -     - 
Root,  Isaac       -     - 
Rowley,  Joseph 
Rowley,  Jirah 
Smith,  Nicholas     - 
Scudder,  Jesse,  Eleazer 

Boughton  -  -  -  3  56 
Stone,  Ebenezer  -  -  -  i  62 
Seymour,  Ira,  Jr.  -     -     i  19 


$2  51 

-  516 

I  88 

-  3  33 

I  19 

2  64 

-  565 

I  22 

-  2  18 

3  30 

376 

4  14 

I  46 

-  674 

336 

I  72 

6  68 

2  00 

2  96 

-2  66 

6  12 

2  64 

-  336 

2  44 

70 


Names.  Tax. 

Scudder,  Ezekiel  -  -  $3  56 
Jackson,  William  -  -  2  00 
Turner,   Peter,  paid  by 

wheat,    yet    owe    for 

wheat  -  -  -  -  2  96 
Turner,  Peter  Jr.,  -  -  i  22 
Turner,  Lyman  -  -  i  22 
Turner,    Solomon,  paid 

by  P.Turner     -     -     -  3  30 


Names.  Tax. 

Thrall,  Joseph  -  -  -  $3  12 
Turner,  Nathl  -  -  -  3  56 
Upton,  James  -  -  -  648 
Willmarth,  Ezra  -  -  -  3  32 
Williams,  Abijah  -  "  3  35 
Willmarth,  Gersham  -  2  00 
Williams,  Elisha  -  -  2  18 
Willard,  Urana  -  -  -  2  64 
May,  Charles     -      -     -     i  22 


I  have  not  corrected  the  spelling  for  fear  of  destroying 
the  likeness  in  this  copy  to  the  original  document.  This 
paper  is  also  in  the  possession  of  Mr.   R.  B.  Moore. 

There  is  no  date  upon  the  above  mentioned  roll,  and  I 
therefore  add  the  copy  of  a  deed  given  by  John  Berry  to 
Abijah  Williams  at  a  later  date  than  the  assessment  roll. 
John  Berry  owned  a  pew  when  the  assessment  roll 
was  made  out,  and  his  name  is  on  the  roll.  Subse- 
quently he  sold  his  pew  to  Abijah  Williams.  This  places 
the  date  of  the  assessment  roll  previous  to  that  of  this  deed. 
The  deed  is  dated  May  5,  1813,  and  is  as  follows  : 

DEED. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  John  Berry* 
of  Victor,  in  the  county  of  Ontario,  and  State  of  New  York, 
have  sold,  conveyed  and  confirmed  unto  Abijah  Williams, 
of  the  same  town,  county  and  State  aforesaid,  the  northwest 
corner  pew  in  the  body  of  the  meeting-house  known  by  the 
Proprietor's  Meeting-house  in  Victor,  or  such  part  of  said 
pew  as  I  paid  for  towards  it,  together  with  all  the  privileges 
belonging  thereunto,  to  warrant,  secure  and  defend  against 
the  claims  and  demands  of  any  person  or  persons  whatso- 
ever ;  in  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
seal  this  fifth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen. 

John  Berry,     [seal] 

Samuel  Berry. 

It  was  this  ownership  of  the  pews,  thus  deeded  from 
party  to  party,  that  subsequently  as  late  as  1828-1830,  led  to 
the  claim  on  the  part  of  certain  parties,  who  had  acquired 
title  to  a  few  of  the  pews,  to  the  right  to  use   the  meeting- 


71 

house  a  part  of  the  time  for  rehgious  services  foreign  to 
the  worship  of  the  Congregational  Society ;  on  the  other 
hand  the  trustees  and  society  refused  to  admit  the  claim  and 
maintained  such  attitude  until  they  had  built  and  moved 
into  their  new  church,  which  was  dedicated  in  1833. 

The  old  church  was  then  taken  possession  of  by  the 
Universalists.  It  has  been  claimed  that  the  property  was 
duly  purchased  from  the  Presbyterians,  but  I  am  not  aware 
that  such  transfer  was  actually  made,  or  that  any  such  deed 
was  ever  executed  or  recorded.  I  am  imformed  that  the 
Presbyterians  let  the  whole  matter  go  by  default. 


Among  other  documents  are  the  Church  Records, 
beginning  with  the  first  ecclesiastical*  council  which  met  for 
the  purpose  of  installing  Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  Feb.  13, 
1799.  These  records  are  complete  and  interesting  in  their 
bearing  upon  the  history  of  the  church. 


There  is  also  a  plan  of  the  pews  of  the  old  church, 
bearing  the  date  April  7,  1809,  subsequent  to  the  building 
of  the  church.  Another  document  connected  with  the 
history  of  the  old  church,  is  the  deed  of  land  given  by 
Thomas  Hawley  to  the  proprietors,  or  pew^holders,  of  the 
church.  The  deed  is  given  to  those  who  owned  pews  at  the 
time  it  was  drawn.  It  bears  as  late  a  date  as  October  i,  1818 
showing  that  the  promise  of  Mr.  Hawley  to  deed  the  land 
was  not  fulfilled  until  a  number  of  years  after  the  church 
was  built.  This  deed  was  not  recorded  until  September  13, 
1825. 

There  were  names  added  to  the  deed  between  the  date 
of  execution  and  recording,  due  to  new  comers  purchasing 
pews. 

The  parties  named  in  this  deed,  and  their  families, 
were  attendants  upon  the  Congregational  church  at  the 
time,  and  most  of  their  families  were  represented  on  the  roll 
of  church  members. 


72 


DEED. 


"This  indenture,  made  the  first  day  of  October,    1818. 
between    Thomas    Hawley,  of  the  town  of  Victor,  in  the 
county  of  Ontario,  and  State  of  New  York,  of  the  first  part, 
and  EHhu  Ingersoll,  Jirah  Rowley,  Joseph  Rowley,  Thomas 
Ingersoll,  David  Lusk,  James  Upton,  Dinah  Brooks,  Elisha 
Coan,  Asahel  Boughton.  George  Low,  Lora  Davis,  the  heirs 
of    Joseph    Thrall,    deceased,    Isaac     Marsh,    Isaac     Root, 
Abraham     Boughton,    John     Brace,     DeForest    Boughton, 
Nathaniel   Turner,    Ira    Seymour,    Jr.,  Gersham  Wilmarth, 
Silas  Pardy,  the  heirs  of  Elisha  Brace,  dead,  Ezekiel  Scudder, 
Joseph  Perkins,  Solomon    Turne.r,  Peter  Perry,    Ebenezer 
Bement,    Erastus    Ingersoll,   the  heirs  of    Nicholas    Smith, 
deceased,    Elisha    Williams,   Ezra    Wilmarth,    the  heirs    of 
Peter   Turner,    deceased,    Timothy   Williams,    the  heirs  of 
Jesse    Scudder,    deceased,    Thomas     Beach,    Enos    Gillis, 
Samuel    Gillis,    Isaac     Simmons,    Reuben    W.    Brace,     Asa 
Root,   Jeremiah  Hull,  the  heirs  of  Joseph  Brace,  deceased, 
Asahel   Moore,  Samuel   R.  Perkins,  Jabez  Eelt,  Nathaniel 
Boughton.    Abraham    Bronson,  Abijah    Williams,  Thomas 
Hawley,    Solomon    Griswold,  Abner   Hawley,  Jabez   Hart, 
Harvey    Hart,    Joanna    Marsh,    William     Jackson,   Eleazer 
Boughton,  Rufus  Dryer,  Claudius  V.   Boughton,  the  heirs 
of    Seymour   Boughton,    deceased,    the    heirs    of    Seymour 
Boughton,  Jr.,  deceased,  Jacob  Lobdell,  Reuben   Parmele, 
Andrew    Colton,    Asahel    Lusk,     Jared     Boughton,     Isaac 
Hathaway,  Harvey  Bement,  Edwin  Bement,  Lucy  Boughton, 
Jonathan  Smith,  Simeon   Parks,  Samuel   Rawson,  the  heirs 
of    Urana  Willard,  deceased,  Nathaniel   O.  Dickinson,  Silas 
Thayer,    Manley    Hawley,   Erie    Hawley,  Alice  Boughton, 
Harvey  Boughton,   Silas  Barnes,  and   John   Hughes,  all  of 
the    county  and  State  aforesaid,  of  the  second    part,   wit- 
nesseth  :    The    said  party   of    the    first    part     for    and     in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  sixteen  dollars,  to  him  in  hand 
paid    by    the    said    party  of    the  second  part,  the    receipt 
whereof    is    hereby    confessed    and    acknowledged,    hath 
granted,  bargained,    sold,     remised,  released,  aliened     and 
confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  doth  grant,  bargain,  sell, 
remise,  release,  alien  and  confirm  unto  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part  and  to  theirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  that  certain 
piece  or  parcel  of  land  situate  in  town  of  Victor  aforesaid 
or  township  No.  11  in  the  4th  range  of  township,  and  bounded 
as    follows,  viz:     Beginning    at    a    maple    stump    in    the 


n 

highway  a  few  rods  easterly  from  the  now  dwelling  house  of 
Thomas  Beach  ;  thence  running  north  70°  west  four 
chains  and  seventy  links  to  a  stake;  thence  north  9°  east 
four  chains  and  fifty  links  to  a  stake  ;  thence  south  ']']'^ 
east  four  chains  and  fifty  links  to  a  maple  tree  ;  thence  south 
nine  degrees  west,  five  chains  and  ten  links  to  the  place  of 
becrinnincr  •  containing  two  acres  and  one  rood  of  land,  it 

00*0  ' 

being  the  plot  of  ground  on  which  the  meeting-house  in  said 
rown  of  Victor  stands  ;  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
hereditaments  and  appurtenances  thereto  belonging  or  in 
any  wise  appertaining,  and  the  reversion  and  reversions, 
remainder  and  remainders,  rents,  issues  and  profits  thereof, 
and  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  claim  and  demand, 
whatsoever,  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  either  in  law 
or  equity  of,  in  and  to  the  above  bargained  premises,  with 
the  said  heriditaments  and  appurtanences,  to  have  and  to 
hold  the  said  premises  above  described  ;  to  the  said  party 
of  the  second  part,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  being  proprietors 
of  said  meeting-house.  And  the  said  party  of  the  first  part 
for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators, doth  covenant, 
grant,  bargain  and  agree  to,  and  with  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  that  at  the  time  of  the 
ensealing  and  delivery  of  these  presents,  he  is  well  seized 
of  the  premises  above  conveyed,  as  of  a  good,  sure,  perfect, 
absolute  and  indefeasible  estate  of  inheritance,  in  the  law, 
in  fee  simple,  and  that  the  above  bargained  premises  in  the 
quiet  and  peaceable  possession  of  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  against  all  and  every 
person  or  persons  lawfully  claiming  or  to  claim  the  whole 
or  any  part  thereof,  he  will  forever  warrant  and  defend, 
excepting  the  said  party's  of  the  first  part  legal  share  as  a 
proprietor  in  the  before  described  premises.  In  witness 
whereof  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  hath  hereunto  set 
his  hand  and  seal,  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  William 
Bushnell.  Thomas  Hawley,  [Seal.] 

William  H.  Harrls. 

State  oe  New  York — Ontario  County— ss.:  Be  it 
remembered  that  on  the  loth  day  of  October,  18 18,  came 
before  me,  Jared  Boughton,  one  of  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  take  the  acknowledgment  of  Deeds,  etc.,  in  and 
for  said  county,  Thomas  Hawley,  and  acknowledged  the 
within  instrument,  to  be  his  voluntary  act  and  deed,  and 


74 

that  he  signed  sealed  and  delivered  the  same  to  and  for  the 
uses  and  purposes  therein  mentioned,  and  I,  knowing  the  said 
Thomas  Hawley,  and  that  he  is  the  person  described  in  and 
who  executed  the  said  instrument,  and  having  examined 
the  same  instrument,  and  finding  therein  no  erasures  nor 
any  interlineations  excepting  the  words  of  the  first  part 
between  the  second  and  third  lines  from  the  top  of  the  last 
page,  do  allow  the  same  to  be  recorded. 

J A RED    BOUGHTON, 

Commissioner. 
A  true  copy  of  the  original  recorded  June  f3th,  1825,  at 
4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

RoLi'H  Lester, 
Deputy  Clerk. 

State  of  New  York— Ontario  County  Clerk's  ofifice, 
Canandaigua,  March  loth,  1856 — I,  John  I.  Lyon,  clerk  of 
said  county,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true 
copy  of  an  original  deed,  now  on  record  in  said  office,  in 
book  43,  page  439,  and  having  compared  the  same  with  said 
original  do  find  it  to  be  a  true  copy  thereof  and  of  the 
whole  of  said  original. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  said  county  the  day 
and  year  to  this  certificate  above  written. 

John  L  Lyon, 
Clerk  of  said  county. 
The  names  of  the  pew-holders  at  the  time  this  deed  was 
given  are  found  in  the  deed.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  follow- 
ing heirs  represented  their  parents  deceased,  ( these  parents 
represented  themselves  on  the  tax  list  which  is  of  much 
older  date  than  this  deed.) 

The  heirs  of  Joseph  Thrall. 
"          "      "    Elisha  Brace. 

"      "    Nicholas  Smith. 
"         "      "    Peter  Turner. 
"  "      "    Jesse  Scudder.  . 

"         "      "    Joseph  Brace. 
"  "      "    Seymour  Boughton. 

"      "    Urana  Willard. 
"          "      "    Seymour  Boughton,  Jr.,    (neither  he  nor 
his  heirs  are  mentioned  in  the  tax  list.) 


75 

Dinah  Brooks  represents,  in  the  deed,  her  husband, 
(  Zenih)  deceased,  whose  name  appears  upon  the  tax  Hst. 

The  following  names  that  appear  on  the  tax  list,  do 
not  appear  in  the  deed  showing  that  their  pews  have  changed 
hands. 

John  Berry  sold  out  as  per  deed,  to  Abijah  Williams, 
Levi  Boughton,  Michael  Brooks,  John  Boughton,  Ebenazer 
Stone,  Peter  Turner,  Jr.,  Lyman  Turner,  Charles  May, 
Simeon  Dryer,  Isaac  T.  Evarts,  John  Haney,  Josiah  More- 
house. 

The  following  names  appear  for  the  first  time,  in  the 
deed: 

Lora  Davis,  Timothy  Williams,  Enos  Gillis,  Samuel 
Gillis,  Isaac  Simmons,  Jabez  Felt,  Abraham  Bronson,  Joanna 
Marsh,  Eleazer  Boughton,  Asahel  Lusk,  Harvey  Bement, 
Edwin  Bement,  Lucy  Boughton,  Jonathan  Smith,  Simeon 
Parks,  Samuel  R.  Rawson,  Silas  Thayer,  Manley  Hawley, 
Erie  Hawley,  Alice  Boughton,  Harvey  Boughton,  Silas 
Barnes,  John  Hughes. 

Some  of  these  names  that  appear  in  the  deed,  but  not 
on  the  tax  list,  undoubtedly  represent  their  parents  whose 
names  are.  on  the  tax  list,  and  they  dead  when  the  deed  was 
drawn.  Others  whose  names  appear  for  the  first  time  in 
the  deed,  were  new  comers  who  had  bought  their  pews 
subsequently  to  the  date  of  the  tax  list. 

All  this  shows  the  usual  changes  going  on  in  the  buy- 
ing and  selling,  and  occupancy  of  pews  in  every  church. 


Change  of  Name. 

At  a  special  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  held  at  the 
Court  House,  in  the  Village  of  Canandaigua,  in  and  for  the 
County  of  Ontario,  N.  Y..  on  the  19th  day  of  May,  A.  D., 
1888.  Present:  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Adams,  Justice,  Supreme 
Court,  Ontario  County.  In  the  matter  of  the  Application 
of  the  North-East  Congregational  Society,  in  the  town  of 
Bloomfield,  in  the  County  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New 
York,  also    commonly  known  as  the   First  Congregational 


7^ 

Society  of  the  Town  of  Victor,  for  a  change  of  name  to  the 
"  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Victor."  An  appHcation 
having  been  made  at  this  Special  Term  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  County  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New  York,  by 
the  above  petitioner  herein,  the  North-East  Congregational 
Society  in  the  Town  of  Bloomfield,  in  the  County  of  Ontario 
and  State  of  New  York,  also  commonly  known  as  "The 
First  Congregational  Society  of  the  Town  of  Victor,"  for 
an  order  of  this  Court  authorizing  it,  the  said  petitioner,  to 
assume  a  ■new  corporate  name.  Now,  on  reading  the 
petition,  therefor  herein  duly  verified  on  the  27th  day  of 
March,  1888,  by  Willis  D.  Newton,  and  heretofore  filed  in 
the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  County  of  Ontario,  on  the  29th 
day  of  March,  1888,  and  it  appearing  and  it  being  satis- 
factorily proven  to  this  Court,  therefrom  and  thereby — 

1st.  That  said  petitioner  is  not  a  corporate  body  such 
as  is  excepted  and  excluded  from  the  provisions  of  Chapter 
322  of  the  Laws  of  1S70,  and  the  various  Legislative  acts 
amendatory  thereof  or  supplemental  thereto,  but  is  a 
corporate  religious  body,  organized  under  and  pursuant  to 
the  Laws  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  is  within  the  intent 
purpose  and  provisions  of  said  Laws,  and  the  amendatory 
and  supplemental  acts  thereof  and  thereto  . 

2d.  That  said  Willis  D.  Newton,  the  person  verifying 
said  petition,  is  the  chief  officer  of  said  corporation. 

3d.  That  such  corporation,  said  petitioner,  has  no 
distinct  office  for  the  transaction  of  its  busines  other  than 
such  corporate  business  is  legally  and  regularly  transacted 
at  the  church  property  of  said  petitioner. 

4th.  That  the  principal  corporate  property  of  said 
petitioner  is  situate  at  Victor  in  said  County  of  Ontario  and 
State  of  New  York. 

5th.  And  it  further  appearing  that  this  application  is 
made  in  pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  said  petitioner;  and  further,  that  such  resolution  was 
passed  pursuant  to  and  upon  the  request  of,  the  membership 
of  said  body  corporate,  manifested  and  expressed  at  a 
regular  annual  meeting  thereof,  held  at  the  church  on  the 
2ist  day  of  November,  1887. 

6th.  And  it  being  proven  satisfactorily  to  this  Court, 
by  said  verified  petition  and  the  papers  therein  referred  to 
and  thereto  annexed,  and  therewith  filed  and  presented,  that 
the  present  corporate  name  of  said  petitioner,  the  North 
East  Congregational  Society,  in  the  Town  of  Bloomfield,  in 


77 

the  County  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New  York,  by  reason 
of  the  change  of  circumstances  and  surroundings  in  said 
petition  particularly  and  fully  set  forth,  has  become  a 
misnomer,  and  is  misleading,  incongruous  and  inconvenient, 
and  worthless  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  originally 
assumed  and  accepted,  and  that  its  character  and  location 
will  be  more  correctly  and  effectually  designated  by  the 
change  of  its  present  corporate  name  to  the  proposed  new 
corporate  name,  the  '"First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Victor," 
and  it  further  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Court, 
that  there  is  no  other  body,  corporate  or  otherwise,  in  said 
Town  of  Victor,  by  such  name,  or  understood  to  be  the 
same  as,  or  similar  to,  such  new  corporate  name. 

7th.  And  this  Court  being  satisfied  by  said  verified 
petition  that  there  is  no  reasonable  objection  to  such  cor- 
poration changing  its  corporate  name,  to  said  new  corporate 
name. 

8th.  And  it  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  this  Court, 
that  notice  of  the  time  when,  and  place  where,  such  appli- 
cation would  be  made,  has  been  duly  given  by  the  publi- 
cation of  a  notice  thereof  once  in  each  week  for  six  weeks  in 
the  Ontario  County  Times,  a  newspaper  published  weekly 
at  Canandaigua,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  such  County  being 
the  County  in  which  said  corporation  is  situate  and  has  its 
corporate  property  and  in  which  County  the  trustees  thereof 
reside,  and  that  such  notice  has  been  also  published  once 
in  each  week  for  six  weeks  in  the  Ontario  County  Times, 
a  newspaper  published  in  Canandaigua,  Ontario  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  being  one  of  the  newspapers  within  said  County 
duly  authorized  to  publish  the  Session  Laws  therein,  having 
been  heretofore  duly  designated  for  such  purpose,  asappears 
from  the  proof  of  such  publication  thereof,  which  said 
publication  being  hereby  declared  sufficient,  and  publication 
thereof  in  any  other  paper  or  papers  being  hereby  dispensed 
with. 

Now,  on  reading  such  verified  petition,  and  the  papers 
therein  referred  to  and  thereto  annexed,  and  on  reading  and 
filing  the  notice  of  the  time  when  and  place  where,  this 
application  would  be  made,  and  on  reading  and  filing  the 
proof  of  the  due  publication  thereof,  and  on  motion  of  Mark 
T.  Powell,  of  counsel  for  said  petitioner,  no  one  appearing; 
in  opposition  thereto. 

It  is  ORDERED  :  That  the  prayer  of  the  petitioner  be, 
and  the  same  is,  hereby  granted. 


78 

It  is  FURTHER  ORDERED:  That  the  said  petitioner,  the 
said  North-East  Congregational  Society  in  the  Town  of 
Bloomfield  in  the  County  of  Ontario  and  State  of  New  York 
be,  and  hereby  is,  authorized  to  change  its  said  corporate 
name,  and  in  place  and  stead  thereof,  to  assume  on  the  25th 
day  of  June,  1888,  and  thereafter  be  known  by  and  use,  as 
its  legal  corporate  name,  the  proposed  new  corporate  name 
of,  the  '*  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Victor." 

And  it  is  FURTHER  ORDERED  :  That  this  order  be  pub- 
lished once  in  each  week  for  four  weeks  prior  to  said  25th 
day  of  June  1888,  in  the  Victor  Herald,  a  weekly  newspaper 
published  at  Victor,  Ontario  County,  New  York,  which 
paper  is  hereby  designated  for  such  purpose. 

And  it  is  FURTHER  ORDERED:  That  a  copy  of  this 
order  shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  Sate  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  that  this  order  be  filed  in  the 
ofhce  of  the  Clerk  of  the  County  of  Ontario. 

(Endorsed.) 

Filed  2lst  May,  1888.— M.  H.  Smith,  Clerk. 

State  of  New  York,  Ontario  County  Clerk's  Office, 
Canandaigua,  N.  Y., — I,  Martin  H.  Smith,  Clerk  of  the 
County  of  Ontario,  of  the  County  Court  of  said  County,  and 
and  of  the  Supreme  Court,  both  being  Courts  of  Record, 
having  a  common  seal,  do  hereby  certify,  that  I  have  com- 
pared the  annexed  copy  of  order  with  the  original  on  file 
and  entered  in  this  office,  and  that  the  same  is  a  correct 
transcript  therefrom  and  of  the  whole  of  said  original. 

In  Witness  Whereof,  I  have  hereunto  afifixed  the  seal  of 
said  County  and  Courts,  this  [L.  S.]  2Ist  day  of 
May.  A.  D.  1888. 

M.  H.  SMITH, 

Mark  T.  Poweell,  Clerk. 

Att'y  for  Petitoner,  Canandaigua,  N.  Y. 


Roll  of  Pastors  and  Time  ok  Service. 


R 


EV.  Reuben  Parmele  organized  the  society,  September 
13,    1798,  and  completed  the  organization  and   was 


installed  its  first  pastor 
Rev.  Philander  Parmele, 

Ebenezer  Raymond   - 
Jabez  Spicer,  S.  S., 
Daniel  Johnson, 
Richard  Kay, 
Jairus  Wilcox 
Charles  E.  P'urman, 
Charles  Mervvin, 
C.  Van  H.  Powell,       - 
Calvin  Waterbury, 
Charles  C  Carr, 
Job  Pierson,  D.  D.,    - 
.William  H.Webb,D.D. 
Gideon  P.Nichols,D.D. 
Henry  T.'  Miller, 
William  B.   Marsh, 
Robert   Ennis, 
Thomas  Earl  Babb, 
Clarence  W.  Backus     - 


P'eb.13,  1799,  to  May  5,  1 81 2 
Mays.  i8i2,toDec.28,  1814 
Nov.  10,  '19,  to  April  6,  '25 
Jan.  I,  '26,  to  Jan.  30,  '27 
Sept.  7,  '28,  to  Dec.  29,  "31 
June — ,  '32,  to  Nov.  I2,  '35 
Nov.  6,  '36,  to  Jan.  14,  '38 
June  20,  '38,  to  April — ,  '46 
April  20,  '46,  to  Aug.  7,  49 
Jan.  6,  '50,  to  March  2,  '51 
July  8,  '51,  to  Aug.  15,  '55 
Jan.  7.  's6,  to  Oct.  20,  '56 
Dec.  15,  '56,  to  Sept.  27,  '63 
Dec.  6,  '63,  to  Oct.  22,  '65 
May  — ,  '66,  to  Aug,  8,  '69 
June  I,  '71,  to  June  i,  '73 
Dec,  7,  '73,  to  Nov.  22,  75 
Feb.  12,  '76,  to  Aug.  5,  'yj 
Feb.  3,  '78,  to  June  3.  '8a 
July     I,  '84,  to 


8o 


Roll  of  Deacons. 


Isaac  Root. 
Abijah  Williams, 
Simeon  Parks, 
William  Parmele, 
John  Wells. 
Belden  Seymour. 
Nathan  Jenks, 
Marcus  A.  Norton, 
Samuel  Tallmadge 
Albert  Simonds, 
D.  Henry  Osborne, 
James  F.  Draper,  M.  D. 


May  3L  1804  to  March  14.    i^ 
July'io,   '12,  died   March- 
March  14,    16,  to   Nov.  27, 
Feb.    8,  '27,  to    Oct.      i. 
-     May   30,  '28,  to    May     5. 
Oct.    4,  '32,  to   March  8, 
Oct.    4.  "32,  to   Nov.  13, 
Nov.  20,  '37,  died  Nov.  i. 
May  22,  '44,  died  Apr.   7, 
March     8,  '58.  now  in  offic 

April     7  '63,      

April     I  '88,        "    "       •' 


16 
40 

22 

->  - 

44 

5« 

?>7 
70 

63 


Roll  of  Elders. 


William  Parmele,    - 
Ah^ah  Dickinson, 
John.  Mosher, 
William  Bushnell,     - 
Waitsell    Dickinson, 
Jasper  W.  Peet, 
Samuel  Tallmadsce, 


March  25,  1827,    to  Oct.     i,  1835 

March  25.  '27.  to  Sept.  20,  '32 

-     Jan.  II,  "29,  to  Mar.  12,  '30 

Jan.  II,  '29,  to  Sept.  20,  '32 

.March     7,  '30,  to    Oct.    4,  '35 

March    7,  '30.  to  Sept.  20.  '32 

Sept.  19,  '30,  to  Nov.  13,  't,j 


(After    the     adoption     of    Presbyterian    government, 
March  8.  1858.) 


Samuel  Tallmadge,     - 
Albert  Simonds, 
George  W.  Farnham, 
D.  Henry  Osborne, 
Salmon  Gorsline. 
Hiram   Parks. 
Hiram  Swezey, 


April  4,    1858,    died    April    7,     1863 

"     "         "    still  living  and  an  elder 

-    "    "         "      to      April     29,      1866 

'      "        "    still  living  and  an  elder 

"     "         "      to       July       12,     1865 

April   4,   '58.  died  Feb.    16,  '7^ 

June  24,  '60,  to  July      ,22  '82 


John  Brown 
James  H.  Reeve, 
Darius  L.  Covill,  -     -     - 
James  F.  Draper,  M.  D  . 
Stephen  J.  TaHmadge,    - 
Stafford,  S.  Lusk, 
William  A.  Higinbotham, 
C.  Lewis  Simonds, 


8i 


Dec.    19,   '66,  to   March    17.  ^dj 

Oct.      2.   '68,  died  Sept.    9,  '81 

April  1 1,   '75,   to   Jan.        28,  'jj 

April  II,  '75,   to   June         4,  "So 
Ma)'    10.   "85,   now  in  office 


Roll  ok  Trustkes. 


Jared  Roughtcn,  Sept.   13.  ^^f,\  trustees    und 
Joseph  Brace,  Jr.,  )-      ..     r  • 

T-i  TT      1  li        u        ii       (  ^ct  ot  mcorpc 

1  homas  Hawley,  u       .^       1  i 


Abijah  Williams, 
Ebenezer  Bements, 
Erastus  Ingersoll, 
Thomas  Beach,    M.    D. 
Abraham  Boughton, 


er  original 
poration. 


Trustees  under  re-incorporation, 
Dec.  2,  181 1,  for  the  purpose  of 
changing  the  title  to  the  North 
East  Congregational  Societ)'  in 
town  of  Bloomfield. 


(The  record  between  the  above  and  1836,  is  missing.) 


Date  of  first  No.  of 

election .     terms 

serv'd 

J.  T.  Holli-ster,       1836,  i 

Hiram  Parks,             '37,  3 

Frederick,  A.  Hart,  '38,  3 

(October  11,    1839    ^^-  °^ 
trustees  increased  105.) 

Nathan  Jenks,         1839,  ^ 

Harmon  VanVechten,  '39  i 

Alvin  Parks,               '40,  2 

Melancthon  Lewis,  '40,  1 1 

Albert  Simonds,        '41  6 

Samuel  Tallmadge    '41  2 

Rufus  Seymour,        '42  i 

Abiram  L.  Peet,       '42,  i 

Hiram  Seymour,       '43,  i 


William  Moore, 
Otis  Dryer, 
Jasper  W.   Peet, 
Wm.  P.  Hawkins, 
John  Eckler, 
Philo  Parks, 
Marcus  A.  Norton, 
Peter  Perry, 
Thos.  K.  Embry, 
PVederick  Fox, 
John  Smith  Jones, 
D.  Henry  Osborne, 
William  GuUap, 
Orrin  S.  Bacon, 
Darius  L.  Covill, 


43- 
'44. 

I 
2 

'44, 

I 

'44- 

I 

'44. 

I 

45- 

I 

•46. 

I 

46, 

1 

'46. 

2 

47. 

I 

47- 

2 

'58, 

6 

•68. 

I 

'71. 

4 

^71^ 

1 

82 


David  Clark,  74, 

Edwin  S.  Norton,  'yj, 
Marvin  A.  Wilbur,  '79, 
Albert  B.  Simonds,  '79, 


I  j  John  VanVechten,  '80, 

3  !  Stafford  S.  Lusk,      '84, 

4  I  Wm.  B.  Osborne'     '84, 
I  I  Willis  D.  Newton,  '87, 


The  Board  of  Trustees  in  i 
Willis  D.  Newton,  President, 


Orrin  S,  Bacon, 
Marvin  A.  Wilbur, 


John  VanVechten, 
William  B.  Osborne, 


The  Session  in  1888. 
Rev.  C.  W.  Backus,   Moderator, 


Elders,-Albert    Simonds, 
D.  Henry  Osborn, 
Stephen  J.  Tallmadge. 


Stafford  S.  Lusk, 
William  A.  Higinbotham, 
C.  Lewis  Simonds. 


D.  Henry  Osborne, 


Deacons  in  1888, 

Albert  Simonds, 

I   James  F.  Draper,  M,  D. 


-♦••£> 


c. 


Roll  of   Members  from  the  Organization  of  the 
Church   in    1799.    Arranged    according    to 

DATE  OF  admission,  WITH  THE  NAMES  OF 

THE    Pastors    under    whom 

THEY   UNITED. 


United  at  the  organization 
of  the  church  February  13, 
1799,    Rev.    Reuben    Par- 

MELE,  pastor: 
Jabez  Morehouse. 
Ehzabeth  Morehouse. 

wife  of  Jabez. 

EHsha  Perkins. 
Mehitable  Perkins. 

wife  of  Elisha . 

Abijah  WiUiams. 
Mrs.  Thomas  Hawley. 
Jemima  Brace. 

wife  of  Joseph. 

Samuel  Boughton. 
Reuben  Hart,  M.  D. 

1799 
Joseph   Brace. 
Asa  Hickox,  Jr. 
Polly  Hickox. 
Thomas  Hawley. 


Benjamin  Wilson. 
Deborah  Perkins, 
Huldah  Hart, 

wife  of  Dr.  Reuben. 

Eunice  Williams, 

wife  of  Abijah. 

1800 

Ira  Seymour. 
Jerusha  Seymour, 

wife  of  Ira. 

Joseph  Rowley, 

By  letter  from  Chai'lestown,    Mass. 

Anna  Rowley, 

wife  of  Joseph . 

1802 

Laura  Parmele, 

wife  Rev.  Reuben,  I.  fr,  Goshen,  Ct. 

Peter  Turner, 

by  1.   fr.    West    Stoclvbridge  Mass. 

Mindwell  Turner, 

wife  of  Peter. 

Lucy  Ketchum, 

wife  of  Joshua. 


84 


i8o3 
Samuel  Stone, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Stone, 
Isaac  Eoot, 
Mary  Root, 

Wife  of  Isaac,  by  letter  f i-om  West 
Stockbridgre. 

Laura   Parmele, 

daughter  of  Kev.  Reuben. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Boughton. 

1804 
Eleanor  Boughton, 

by  letter  from  Canaan.  Conn. 
1805 

Mrs.  Elisha  Coan. 

by  letter  from  West  Stockbridg-c. 
1806 

Margaret  Hawley, 

wife  of  Capt.  Abner. 
1807 

Aaron   Bailey, 
Mrs.  Aaron  Bailey. 

1808 
Jemima  Hart, 

wife  of  Jabez. 

1809 
Esther  Marsh, 
Elizabeth  Rowley, 

wife  of  Jirah. 

181O 

Widow    Gould. 

1811 
Sibyl  Rowley, 
Rhoda  Turner, 
Melania  Boughton, 

by  letter  from  Providence  R.  I. 
Erastus  Ingersoll, 
Rev.  Abiel  Parmele, 


Isaac  Perkins, 
Roxey  Ingersoll, 

wife  of  Thomas. 

Eliplia  Beach. 

wife  of  Thomas  Beach,  M.  D. 
Aunt  Tally  who  organized  the  first 
Sabbath  School. 

Mrs,  Betsey  Griswold, 

wife  of  Solomon. 

Susan   Hall, 

Rev.  Philander  Parmele, 
May  5th,  1 8 12. 
1812* 
Lydia  West, 
Abigail    Parmele, 

wife  of  Rev.  Phil'r,  1  f  r  Killing-worth 

Selina  Coan, 
Simeon  Hart, 

by  letter  from  Pompey . 

Mrs.    Simeon  Hart. 
Lucretia  Hart, 

their  daughter. 

1813 

Timothy  B.  Applin, 

by  letter  from  Cazenovia,  N.  Y. 

Anna  Green, 

by  letter  from  Sheldon . 

Samuel  Boughton, 

by  letter  from  Scii>;o. 

Lucy  Boughton, 

wife  of  Samuel. 

Esther  Wallingford, 

by  letter  from  Waterford,   X.  Y. 

Gilbert  Saxton, 

Polly  (Mary)   Morehou.se, 

l)y  letter  from  Manlius. 

Solomon  Griswold, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Chapin, 

by  letter  from  CazenoA  ia,  N.  Y. 

Simeon  Boughton. 


85 


i8i4 
Betse}'  Boughton, 

wife  of  Claudius  Victoiv 

Simeon  Parks, 

by  letter  from  Scipio . 

Abigail  Parks, 

wife  ot  Simeon. 

Daniel  Chapin, 

by  letter  from  Cazenovia 

James  Campbell, 

by  letter  from  Florida,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Simmons, 

i-ee'd  and  bap'd  with  her  household. 


Rev.  REirBEX  Parmele  in 
charge  from  Jan.  i,  i8i5,to 
Nov.  lo,  1819. 

1815 
Sarah   Beach, 

wife  of  Samuel,  by  1  f  r  Camden,  N.  J 

Rhoda  Macumber, 

by  1 .  f r.  Richmond. 

Mary   Hays. 
Persis  Turner. 

1816 
John  Grow,  Jr. 
Mrs.  John  Grow,  Jr. 
William  Parmele, 
Lucy  May, 
John  Grow,  Sr. 

by  letter  from  Dansville,  Vt. 

Mrs.  John  Grow,  Sr. 
Hannah  Voorhies, 

wife  ot  Georg-e,  from  Charlestown. 

George  Voorhies, 
Mary  Hart, 

wife  of  Harvey. 

Theodosia  Jackson, 
Eunice  Boughton, 
Ansel  Rowley, 
Frederick  A.  Hart, 


Sylvia  Hart, 

wife  of  Frederick  A. 

Joseph  Hosford, 
Jonathan  Smith, 
Mrs.  Jonathan  Smith, 
Ansel  Perkins, 
Betsey  Perkins, 

wife  of  Ansel. 
Lavina  Rowley, 
Electa  Bushnell, 

by  1.  fr.  Richland:  wife  of  Barnet  B. 

Deborah  Grow, 
Abigal  Wilmarth, 

by  letter  from  Westford. 

Jotham  J.  Barnes, 
Lavina  Barnes, 

wife  of  Jotham. 

Esther  Barret, 

wife  of  Amasa.     ' 
Lucretia  Rowley, 
Mary  Hosford, 
Catharine  Lane, 
Charles  Monford , 

by  letter  from  B.  Ridge,  N.  .1 

Artelicia  Dryer, 
Sylvia  Rowley, 
Robert  Gillis, 

by  letter  from  Argyle,  N.  Y 

Mrs.  James  Powell, 

from  Clintori,  N.  Y. 

Amasa  Barret, 
Apama  Dickinson, 

wife  of  Nathaniel  O. 
I817 

Abigail  Wadkins, 

by  letter  from  Cazenovia. 

Anna  Rowley, 

wife  of  Joseph,  Jr. 
I818 

John  Wells, 

by  letter  from  Mavflelr? 


86 


Reuben  Smith, 

by  letter  from  Cazenovaa. 

Mrs.  Reuben  Smith, 
Mrs.  Vantile, 

by  letter  from  Salem . 

Mrs.  Isaac  Hathaway. 

1819 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Corey, 

by  letter  from  Cazenovia. 

Jacob  Lane. 

by  letter  from  Charlestown. 

Nancy  Wells, 

wife  of  John. 

Dinah  Boughton, 

by  letter  from  West  Stockbridge. 

Ebenezer  Parsons, 
Hannah  Parsons, 

wife  of  Ebenezer,  Genoa. 

Catharine  Parmele, 

by  letter  from  Phelps 

Rev.  Ebenezer   Raymond, 
from  November  10,  18 19,  to 
April  6,  1825. 
1820 
Mrs.  Lydia  Raymond. 

1821 
Mrs.  Polly  Brunson, 

by  letter  from  Penflekl. 

Mrs.  Robbins. 

1822 
Betsey  Smith, 

bj'  letter  from  Cazenovia. 

Ira  Hart, 

by  letter  from  Stockbridge. 
Michael  Fredricks, 
Mrs.  Jane  Furgerson. 

1823 
Sally  Beach, 
John  Bushnell, 


Ruth  Bushnell, 

wife  of  John. 

James  Bushnell, 

Clarissa  Bushnell, 
wife  of  James. 

1824 

Waitstell  Dickinson, 

Catharine  Dickinson 

wife  of  Waitstell . 

Hezekiah  Ford, 
Hannah  Ford, 

wife  of  Hezekiah. 

Hannah  Ford, 

their  daughter. 

Celestia  N.  Ford, 
Adelisa  Crocker, 
Sibyl  Bigford, 
Elizabeth  Smith, 

(Mrs.  Hilton). 

Polly  Heron. 

1825 
Alvah  Dickinson, 
Amanda  Dickinson, 

wife  of  Alvah. 

Claiissa  Peck, 

w.  of  Harry,  by  1.  fr.  E.  Hartford  C. 

Abigail  Horton, 
Phidelia  Perkins, 
Ruth  Delano. 

1826 
Rev.   Jabez  Spicer,    S.    S., 

from  Jan.  1,1826,  to  Jan.  30, 

1827. 
Joanna  Ingersoll, 

wife  of  Stephen. 

Rev.  Reuben  Parmele  ex- 
ercising general  supervis- 
ion from  Feb.  i,  1827,  to 
Sept.  7,  1828. 


87 


i827 
Mrs.  Abigail  Parmele, 

by  letter  from  Phelps. 
1828 

John  Mosher. 

by  letter  from  Union  Village,  N.  Y. 

William  Grimes, 

by  letter  from  Manchester. 

]\Iary  Grimes, 

wife  of  William . 

Seth  C.  Parmele, 
Harriet  Parmele, 

■wife  of  Seth . 

Sarah  Mosher, 

wife  of  John. 

Almon  Ford, 
Sinai  Ford, 

wife  of  Almon,  by  1.  fr.  Portland,  Me. 

William  Bushnell, 
Joseph  Perkins, 
Jasper  W.  Peet. 
Ira  Dickinson. 
Anna  Dickinson, 

wife  of  Ira. 

Cindaiilla  Jones, 

Rev.  Daniel  Johnson,  pas- 
tor from  Sept.  7,  1828,  to 
December  29,  1831. 

Mary  Weston, 

Mrs.  Ann   Decker. 
1829 

Apama  Dickinson, 

Mrs.   Hiram  Parks. 

Mrs.  Persis  Payne, 
Mrs.  Laura  Mosher, 
Mrs.  Polly  Sheldon. 

1830 
Mrs.  Electa  A.  Peet, 
Josiah  Tallmadge, 


Mrs.  Josiah  Tallmadge, 
Samuel  Tallmadge, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Tallmadge, 
William  J.  Wells, 
Mary  Ann  Goodrich, 

wife  of  Benjamin  D. 

Mary  Hickox, 
Eunice  Smith, 
Hannah  Mo.sher, 

by  letter  from  Clyde . 
Mrs.  Harriet  Chaterden. 
Belden  Seymour, 
Pierpont  Seymour, 
Simeon  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Lois  Peet. 
Mrs.  Simeon  Johnson. 
Rachel  Bradley, 
Elizabeth  Van  Arnam. 

1831 
Mrs.  Nellie  Inman, 
Ephraim  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Oliver  Peck, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Satira  Dickinson, 
Cynthia  Dickinson, 
Hannah  Bortle, 
James  M.  Campbell. 
Mary  Eve  Campbell, 

wife  of  James. 

Mary  Dickinson, 
Mrs.  Jane  Jenks, 
Mrs.  Sylvia  Williams, 
Electa  Hubbell, 

Mrs.   Albert  Simonds. 

Mrs.  Ann  P.  Walling, 
Mary  M.  Peet, 
Laura  Mo.sher, 
Benjamin  D.  Goodrich, 


88 


Rev.  Bostic  Perkins, 
Dr.  Doroner, 

by  letter  from  Palmyra,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Clarissa  Walker, 
Catharine  Vanbergen, 
Catharine  Dickinson, 
Eliza  Dickinson, 
Mrs.  Delano, 
Lorin  Root, 
Sally  Root, 

wife  of  Lorin. 

Parmelia  Chadwick, 
Mary  Johnson, 
Samuel  Palmer, 
Polly  Palmer, 

•wife  of  Samuel. 

Lydia  Turner. 

1832 

Rev.  Reuben  Parmele,  and 
supplies,  with  the  church 
from  January  i,  1832,  to 
January  24,  1833. 

Rufus  Seymour, 

Mrs.  Rufus  Seymour. 

Richard  Butterfield, 

Charity  Butterfield, 

wife  of  Richard. 

Marana  Turner, 
Nathan  Jenks, 
Orrin  Olmstead, 
Mrs.  Eunice  Rawson, 
Luther  Williams, 
Submit  Grimes, 
Jerusha  Palmer, 
Alvah  Inman, 
Martha  Ann  Turner, 
Robinson  Ormsby, 
Cornelia  E.  Northrup, 


Clarissa  Ormsby, 

wife  of  Robinson, 

Mary  L.  Seymour. 

1833 

Rev.  Richard  Kay  pastor 
from  January  24,  1833  to 
November  12,  1835. 

Benjamin  D.  Turner, 

Julia  Turner. 

Mrs.  Lucy  Pullen, 

Mrs.  Ann  Look, 

Asenath  Turner, 

David  Raymond, 

Laura  Raymond, 

wife  of  David. 

Clarissa  Raymond. 
Joshua  Raymond, 
Sylvester  Harris, 
John  Turner, 
Theron   Chadwick, 
Asa  Root, 
Solomon  Turner, 
Maria  Dunning, 
Maria  Chadwick, 
Lucina  Root. 
Eunice  Boughton. 
Harvey  Hart, 
Mrs.  Asa  Root, 
Augusta  Peet, 
Mary  Ann  Wallingford, 
Vashti  Grimes, 
Miles  Lowell, 
Marcus  A.  Norton, 
Margaret  Norton, 

wife  of  Marcus  A . 

Mrs.  Margaret  Wheeler, 
Henry  Seymour, 


i 


89 


Mary  Seymour, 

wilV  of  Henry. 

Olive  Porter, 
Mariett  Rawson, 

Mrs.  Webster,  Missionary  to  Bom- 
bay, India. 

Betsey  Raymond, 
Trowbridge  Benedict, 
Betsey  Benedict, 

vfife  of  Trowbridg-e. 

Mrs. Mary  Ann  Kay. 

1834 
Stephen  Collier, 
Emeline  Collier, 

wife  of  Steplien 

Mrs.   Sophia  Smith, 
Martha  Seymour, 

wife  of  Belden . 

Mary  Root, 
Mrs.  Nancy  Groff, 
Mary  Parmele, 
Elizabeth  Raymond, 
Mrs.  Lucinda  Dryer, 
Mary  Dryer, 

Mrs.  Peet. 

Caroline  Moore, 
Julia  Witham, 
John  Delano, 
William  Smith, 
Stephen  Ingersoll, 
Isaac  P.  Hollister, 
Ellen  Hollister, 

wife  of  Isaac  P. 

Sarah  Rapeljie, 

Mrs.  M indwell  Delano. 

Samantha  Raymond, 
Hiram  Seymour. 
Cornelia  Ellis, 


Mrs.  Mary  Hart, 
William  R.  Seymour, 
Hannah  Snedaker,  (Root) 

by  letter  from  Ewing 

Israel  Jacobs, 

by  letter  from  Clyde . 

Mrs.  Olive  Colbraith, 

by  letter  from  Palmyra 

Mrs.  Sarah  Embry, 
1836 

Mrs.  Jeanette  Vandenbergh, 
Mary  Jane  McCullough, 
Elizabeth  McCullough, 
Rev.  Ja I  Rus  Wilcox  Pastor 

from  November  6,  1836,  to 

January  14,    1838. 
Hiram  Parks, 
Phebe  Vandenbergh, 
Cynthia  Himnan. 

1837 
Esther  Wallingford, 

wife  of  Jonathan. 

Eunice  Moore, 

Mrs.  Samuel  Bartlett. 

Esther  Wallingford, 

daughter    of   Jonathan  (Mrs.  Ga 
lord  Blair.) 

Jane  Parks, 

Mrs.  Van  Rensselaer  Griffin. 

Charlotte  M.   Pullen, 

Mrs.  John  Boug-hton,  (Tinney) 

Harriet  M.  Jenks, 

Mrs.  Dulcher. 

Mrs  Marian  B.  Seymour, 
Deborah  Boughton, 
Peter  Vandenbergh, 
Albert  Simond'?, 
Squire  G.  Beers, 
Edward  Hayes, 


90 


Abigail   Hayes, 

wife  of  Edward. 

Milton  Nelson, 
Amy  Nelson, 

wife  of  Milton . 

Harmon,  Van  Vechten, 
Eve  Van  Vechten, 

wife  of  Harmon. 

Wynant  Vandenbergh, 
Sarah  Vandenbergh, 

wife  of  Wynant . 

Philo  Parks, 
Phebe  Parks, 

wife  of  Philo . 

Avery  T  Farnham, 
Mrs.  Lucian  Moore, 
Angeline  Moore, 

IVIrs.  Keith. 

Parmelia  Ingersoll, 
Eunice  Hart, 
Jane  A.  Decker, 

Mrs.  James  Sizor, 

Celia  Thompson, 
Mrs.  Betsey  Boughton, 
Caroline  Boughton, 

Mrs.  William  Gallup. 

Julia  Norton, 
Lucia  A.  Tallmadge, 

Mrs.  Beebe. 

Ann  M.  Snedaker, 
JuHa  M.  Buell, 

Mrs.  Walter  B.  Titus. 

Mary  Ann  Buell, 
George  Eddy, 
Temperance  H.  Eddy, 

wife  of  Georg'e. 

Thomas  Eddy, 
Thomas  Flynn. 

1838 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Furman, 
Pastor  from  June  20,  1838, 


to  April  —  1846,  and  was 
in  charge    of  pulpit    from 
the  1st,   Sabbath  in  March 
of  1838. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Mayo, 
Mrs.  Amelia  Hummel, 
M.  A.  Wallingford. 

1839 
Mrs.  Anna  Bushnell. 

Mrs.  Raymond, 

Rev.  J.  W.  Wood, 

by  letter  from  Hamilton,  Canada. 

Zaccheus  P.  Gillette, 
Clarrington  Mayo, 
Abel  Fitch, 
Henrietta  Fitch, 
Jonathan  Wallingford, 
Gideon  Shaw, 
Sarah  Shaw, 
Stephen  J.  Tallmadge, 
Abigail  Jane  Tallmadge, 

Mrs.  Pixley,  (Shepherd,) 

Marcia  Maria  Tallmadge, 

Mrs.  Hathfon. 

Sarah  Ann  VanVechten, 

Mrs.  Stephen  J.  Tallmadge, 

Rebecca  Ann  VanVechten, 

Mrs.  William  Conover, 

Dow  Fonda  Vandenberg, 
Sarah  Jane  Vandenberg, 
Hiram  Chadwick, 
Miranda  M.  Chadwick, 
Seneca  Boughton, 
James  Henry  Young, 
Sarah  Wells, 

Mrs.  Johns.  Gillis, 

Sophia  Hart, 
Martha  Hart, 

Mrs.  Robert  Gillis. 


91 


Betsey  Riddle, 
Julia  Foster  Smalley, 
Cyrus  B.Rawson, 
William  Jones, 
Rachel  Maria  Peet, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Boughton, 
Eliza  Boughton, 
Laura  Maria  Lovejoy, 
Alvan  Parks, 
Martha  Wood, 
John  Smith, 
Elizabeth  Smith, 
Henry  B.  Jenks, 
Cyrus  Jenks, 
H.  E.  J.  Furman, 

wife  of  Rev.  C.   E. 

Catherine  Jay, 
Benjamin  Freeman, 
Sarah  Maria  Bement, 

Mrs.  Squire  Beers. 

Andrew  J.  Decker. 
Jane  Lawrence, 

Mrs .  Stephen  Blood . 

Alphonzo  Lawrence. 
Mrs.  Parmelia  Tallmadge, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Perkins. 
Catharine  J.  Gillis, 

wife  of  Enos. 

1840 

Jane  Pullen, 

Mrs.  Center  Bushnell. 

Daniel  Dryer,  Sr. 

Jeannette  VanVleek, 
Christiana  West, 

wife  of  Georg'e. 

1 841 

Rufus  Seymour, 
Ruth  Seymour, 

wife  of  Kufus. 


Delia  Seymour, 

their  duug-liter. 

Giles  T.  Arnold, 
Iris  Arnold, 

wife  of  Giles  T. 

Azuba  Benton, 
John  Pixley, 

1842 
Van  Rensselaer  Conover, 
Mary  K.  Snedaker, 
Reuben  Mosher, 
John  A.  Gillis, 
Joshua  Holtam, 
Isaac  Hart, 
William  Fuller, 
George  N.  West, 
Abiram  L.  Peet, 
Frederick  Fox, 
Jane  Fox, 

wife  of  Frederick. 
1843 

James  VanVleek, 
Tunis  Brizee, 
Maria  Brizee, 
Philip  H.  Brizee, 
William  Collins, 
Emily  Collins, 
William  Moore, 
Alma  C.  Moore, 
Elizabeth  VanVleek, 
Mary  VanVleek, 
Harriet  E.  Hawkins, 

Mrs.  William  Cole. 

William  P.  Hawkins, 
Abram  Bramble, 
Walter  VanVechten, 
Abner  VanVleek, 
Charles  Seymour, 
Augustus  Root, 


Eveline  M.   Vandenbergh, 
Abbie  E.  Furman, 

Mrs.  Bnggs. 

Henry  Benson, 
Sally  Benson,       ♦ 
Emily  Hubbell, 

Mrs.  John  HoWt^rd, 

Robert  Bruce  Moore, 
Thomas  Turner, 
Harriet  Newell  Hinman, 
Otis  Dryer, 
Augustus  F.  Hart, 
Didama  Fitch, 
Frances  C  Fitch, 
Harriet  Robbins, 
Susan  A.  Hickox, 
Mary  Boughton, 
Lovina  A.  Bushnell, 

Mrs.  D.  Henry  Osborne. 

Simon  H.  Veeder, 
Polly  Veeder, 
Sabria  M.  Root, 
Harriet  Lacretla  Hart, 
Lucy  Ann  Moore, 
Malvina  Lucretia  Hart, 
Elizabeth   McLean, 
Elijah  A.  Webster, 
Noah  Root, 
Susan  Root, 
Gilbert  M.   Raymond, 
Giles  S.  Williams, 
Matilda  Williams, 
Lucien  R.  Peet. 
Ann  M.  Smith, 
Minerva  Wells. 
Frances  A.  Peet, 
Amanda  Beers, 
Angeline  Morris, 


Lydia  Vandenbergh, 
Ezra  M.  Peet, 
John  B.  French, 
Sophia  Leland, 
Eliza  J.  Benson, 
Emily  M.  Moore, 
Philena  Dryer, 
Phebe  Markham, 
George  W.  Clark, 
Mary  J.  Preston, 
Deborah  Perkins, 
Ira  Root, 
Asenath  Root, 

wife  of  Ira. 

1844 

Enoch  F.  Hinman, 
John   Eckler, 
Mary  Eckler, 

wife  of  Jolin. 

John  D.  Grow, 
Electa  Grow, 

wife  of  John. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Dryer, 
Charles  Curtis, 
Mary  Curtis, 

wiie  of  Charles. 

1845 

James  Bristol, 
Lewis  H.  Fort, 
Eveline  Fort, 

wife  of  Lewis. 

Esther  Humphrey, 

wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Stephens. 
1846 

Mrs.  Sarah  Heath. 


Rev.  Charles  M.  Merwin, 
Pastor  from  April  20,  1846, 
to  August  7,  1849. 


93 


Mrs.  Sarah  Raymond. 

1847 
Mrs.  Jane  M.  Boughton, 

1848 
Mrs.  Harriet   B.  Mayo, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Vandenbergh, 
Mrs.  Mary  Osborne, 
Mrs.  Ann  Osborne, 
D.  Henry  Osborne, 
Caroline  Simonds, 

wife  of  Albert. 

1849 

J.  W.  Palmer,  M.  D. 
Mary  Palmer, 

wife  of  Dr.  J.  W. 

Oliver  Grow, 
Parmelia   Grow, 

wife  of  Oliver 

Mary  Jane  Grow, 

Mrs.  James  Mills,  Geneva. 

Isaac  Perkins, 
Elizabeth  Perkins, 

wife  of  Isaac . 
Mrs.  Catharine  Wells, 
Peter  Perry, 
Cynthia  Perry, 

wife  of  Peter. 

Mary  Jenks, 

Mrs.  Frederick  Sines. 
1850 

Rev.  C.  Van  H.  Powell,  S. 

S.  from  January  6,  1850,  to 

March,  2,  LS5L 
Cornelius  Van  Every, 
Maria  Van  Every, 

wife  of  Cornelius. 

Cornelia  A.  Van  Every, 
Wynant  Van  Every, 
Cornelius  C.  VanEvery, 


Mrs.  Susan  Church, 
Walter  B.  Titus. 
1851 
Rev.   Calvin  Waterburv, 

Pastor  from  July  8,  i85I,to 

Augu.st  15,  1855. 
Priscilla  Waterbury, 

wife  of  Rev.  Calvin. 

Charlotte  B.  Seymour, 

Mrs.  Day, 

Samuel  S.  Spring. 

1852 
Emeline  Parks, 

Mrs.  Freeman. 

Salmen  Gorsline, 
Mrs.  Salmen  Gorsline, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Hart, 
Ambrose  C.  Ford, 
Elizabeth  W.  Ford, 

wife  of  Ambrose 

1853 

Mrs.  Maria  Bement, 
Amelia  D.  Norton, 

Mrs    Booth . 

Mary  Ann  Cockran, 
Edwin  Parks, 
Elizabeth  M.  Beers, 

Mrs.  Adrian  Ford. 

Susan  McCullough, 
Joseph  Phipps, 
John  Rollinson, 
Sarah  E.  Salter, 

Mrs.  George  liliss. 

Mary  Ann  Salter, 
Sarah  A.  Jenks, 
Mrs.  Dorcas  Farnham, 
Avery  T.  Farnham, 
Thomas  Grow. 
Mrs.  Ruth  Adams, 


94 


Hannah  Adams, 

Mrs.  McHuron. 

Maria  Parks, 

Mrs.  Susan  Parks, 

Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Heazlet, 

James  Heazlet, 

Alfred  Curtis, 

Phebe  S.  Curtis, 

witv  of  Alfred,    by  1.  fr.    Ballston 
Centre,  N.  Y. 

Isaac  Carey, 
Marcia  Mayo, 
Eliza  Parks, 

Mrs.  Buckland, 

Mrs.  Mercy  Power. 

1854 
Mrs.  Mary  Farnham, 
George  W.  Farnham, 
Margaret  F.  Farnham, 
Harriet  S.  Farnham, 

Mrs.  Edward  Boug-hton. 

Helen  Hubbard, 

Mrs.  Robert  Martin. 

Marietta  Parks, 

Mrs.  Dr.  Silliman. 

Mary  Parks. 

1855-56 

Rev.  Job   Pierson,    D.  D., 
Pastor  from  December  15, 
1856  to  September27, 1863. 
1857 

Mrs.  Nancy  Wilcox, 

Ann  M.  Wilcox, 

Mrs.  Caroline  E.   Smith, 

Mrs.  Mary  Bristol. 


February  24,  1858,  the 
church  changed  its  form  of 
government   and   name,  and 


became  the  "  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Victor,  N. 
Y.,"  which  is  its  present 
constitution. 


1858 
Mrs.  David  Farnham, 
David  Clark, 
Sophia  Clark, 

wife  of  David,  by  1.  fr.  Parma. 

Mrs.  Olive  Deitrich, 
Mrs.  Maria  Van  Ness. 

bv  letter  from  Periuton . 

i8S9 
Mrs.  Emeline  Lewis, 

by  1.  fr.  West  Stockbridg-e,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Temperance  Lewis, 

by  letter  from  Rochester. 

Mrs.  Helen  P.  Seymour, 
Mrs.  Celia  Norton, 

by  letter  from  East  Bloomfleld, 

Mrs.  Anna  Bushnell, 

by  letter  from  Elmira. 

Rachael  W.  Pierson, 

Wife  of  Rev.  Job,   1.  fr.  Pittsford. 

Hiram  Swezey, 

by  letter  from  Newport,  N.  Y, 

Mary  Swezey, 

wife  of  Hiram. 

i860 

John  H.  Levet, 
Emma  M.  Levet, 

wife  of  John,  1.  fr    Rochester. 

George  H.  Robb, 
Catharine  Robb, 

wife  of  Geo.  bothl  fr  Broadalbin  N  Y 

Elizabeth  Norton, 

wife  of  Edwin  S . 
1861 

Julia  Farr, 
Joanna  Camp, 

by  letter  from  Jamaica,  L.I. 


95 


Joseph  Bennet, 
Helen  Peet, 
Elizabeth  Palmer, 
Hannah  Hartman, 

by  k'tter  from  Perinton. 

William  H.  Cline, 
Emily  Cline, 

wife  of  Wm.  H. 

Margaret  A.  Farnham, 
Rodney  Dexter, 
Cordelia  E.  Dexter, 

wife  of  Rodney. 

Mrs.  Frances   S.    Boughton, 

by  1.  fr.  East  Bloomfleld. 

Mary  Jarvis, 

by  letter  from  Jamaica,  L.  I. 
1862 

D  Henry  Palmer, 

byl.fr.  Rochester, (Rev.  Dr.  Palmer 
of  Penn  Yan . ) 

Darius  L.  Covill, 

by  letter  from  Lima. 

Mrs.  Catharine  M.  Longyear* 

1.  fr.  Pittsford,  wife  of  James. 

Samuel  \V.  Osborn, 
Harriet  E.  Osborn, 
Mary  Osborn, 
Ann  Wells, 
Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Sharp, 

wife  of  Cholattu  Sharp. 

Mrs.  Eleanor  Ferguson, 
Mrs.  Ann  Covill, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Ann  Clapper, 
Charlotte  E.  Tallmadge, 

Mrs.  A.  |{.  Rowley. 

Margaret  Gillis, 

wife  of  J   A. 

Gertie  Van  Hoosen, 

byl.  fr.  Mayfleld,  N.  Y. 

Marietta  Bowerman, 

wife  of  Gilford. 


1863 

Mrs.  Cassia  Day, 

by  letter  from  Rochester, 

Mrs.  Nancy  Bowers, 
Charlotte  Parks, 

Mrs.  R.  Reed. 


Rev.  Wm.  H.  Webb,  Pastor, 
from  December  6,  1863  to 
October  22,   1865, 

Mrs.  Sylvina  Peck  Walling. 
1864 

Isaac  B.  Kniffen, 

Tamar  Ann  Kniffen, 

wife  of  Isaac  B . 

Elizabeth  Webb, 

wife  of  Rev.  Wm.  H.  by  1.  fr   Niag'- 
ai'a  City,  N.  Y. 

Minnie  Parks, 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Lane. 

Alice  D.  Lusk, 

wife  of  Stafford   S..   by  1.  fr.  East 
Bloomfleld. 

Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Rollinson, 
John  O.  Palmer, 

by  1.  fr.  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

John   Brown, 
Eveline  Brown, 

wife  of  John. 

Juliette  Brown, 

allbyl.fr.  Rose,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Ann  Warren. 
Mrs.  Hortense  A.  Wilder. 
Mrs.  Jeanette  E.  Rowley, 
Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Gillett. 
1866 
Church  under  supplies  un- 
til November  7,  1866. 
Mrs,  O.  J.  Woodward, 
Mrs.  Hannah   E.  Bement, 

Ity  1.  fr.  Palmyra,  X.  Y. 


96 


Rev.  Gideon  P.  Nichols, 
D.  D.,  Pastor  from  May, 
1866,  to    August    8,    1869. 

Nathaniel  Phillips, 

Emily  Phillips, 

■wife  of  Nathaniel,  bv  1.  fr.  Clarkson 
N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Mary  Boltwood, 
Abbie  Parks. 

1867 
Eliza  Dryer, 

Mrs.  Edward  Bi'owii. 

Maria  Clark, 

Mrs.  George  Sidway. 
Sophia  Clark, 
Elvira  Vanderbergh, 

wife  of  John. 

Irene  Gilbert, 
Myra  Copeland, 
Caroline  West, 

Mrs.  William  Gi'een. 

James  H.  Reeve. 
Lydia  Reeve, 

wife  of  James  H.  by  I.  fr.  Jamaica, 
L.  I. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Copeland. 

by  1.  fr.  Addison,  N.  Y. 

Edward  Copeland. 

1868 
Mrs.  Rachel  Moore, 

wife  of  Robert. 

William  Gallup, 
Orrin  S.  Bacon, 
Harriet  E.  Bacon, 

wife  of  Orrin  S. 

Margaret  Ransom, 
John  H.  Ransom, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wheeler, 
Elizabeth  Norton, 

wife  of  Walter  D . 

Walter  D.  Norton, 


Laura  Parks, 

Ella  Parks, 

Ella  H.  Harrington, 

Mrs.  Frank  J.  Heath . 

Mary  Conover, 

Mrs.  Sidell. 

Emma  Rawson, 
Cora  Wilder, 
George  Randall, 
William  B.  Osborne. 
James  Longyear 
Mrs.  Anna  Humphrey, 

by  letter  from  Brooklyn,  N,  Y. 

Charles  McKallar, 
Delia  McKallar, 

wife  of  Charles. 

Mrs.  Jane  Howell, 

by  letter  from  Chili. 

Ezra  M.  Peet, 
Helen  B.  Peet, 

wife  of  Ezra  M. 

John  VanVechten, 
Edwin  S.  Norton, 
A.  Burton  Simonds, 
George  Frederick, 
John  Vandenbergh, 
Mrs.  Mary  VanCott, 
Mary  Clark, 

Mrs.  Charles  VanVechten. 

Hattie  Peet, 

Mrs.  Diuslow  Gould. 

Carrie  Beach, 
John  Potter, 
William  W.  Gillis, 
Julia  F.  Simmon, 

by  letter  from  Cold  water,  Mich. 

Hannah  VanVechten, 

wife  of  John, 

Augusta  Norton, 

wife  of  E.  S. 


I 


97 


Nellie  Simonds, 

wife  of  A.  li. 

Alida  Fredericks, 

wife  of  George. 

Charlotte  Fredericks, 

wife  (if  Nicholas. 

Julietta  Adams, 
Elizabeth  Conover, 

wife  of  John. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Brocklebank, 
Mary  J.  Simonds, 

Mrs.  Gilbert  Turner. 

Alice  Parks, 
Augusta  Wilder, 
Sophia  Moul, 
Mrs.  Agnes  Decker, 
Carrie  Upton, 

Mrs.  McCarthy. 

Bell  Woodward, 
Sibly  Bell, 
Mary  Moore, 

in  mission  work,  Chicag-o,  111 . 

Mrs.  Jane  Bell, 

Mrs.  Henry  Van Voorhies. 

Julia  Gillis, 
Helen   Gillis, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Brown, 

wife  of  Henry. 

1869 

James  C.  Wisner, 

byl.  fr.  Lyons,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  James  C.  Wisner. 

by  letter  from  Lyons,  N .  Y 

Rev.  Clark  B.  Gillett, 
Charles  K.  Humphre}', 
Robert  Ranney, 

by  letter  from  Ireland. 

Peggy  Ranney, 

wife  of  Robert. 

Mary  Ranney, 
Mrs.  Phebe  West, 

wife  of  Winslow. 


Miss  Frank  Noble. 

Church  under  supplies  from 
August  8,  1869,  to  June  i,  '71 . 
William  Green. 

1870 
Thomas  Gallup, 

bj'  letter  from  Albion. 

Mrs.  Mary  J.  Munson, 
Emma  J.  Munson, 

both  by  1.  from  TitusvlUe,  Pa. 
187I 

Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Powell, 

by  letter  from  Joliet,  111 . 

Dinslow  M.  Gould. 


Rev.  Henry  T.  Miller, 
Pastor  from  June  i,  1871, 
to  June  I,  1873, 

Anna  Peet, 

Mrs.  Henry  Boughton, 

Mrs.  McMurdy, 
Charles  Shaw, 
E.  Shaw, 

wife  of  Charles. 

Carrie  Lobdell, 

Mrs  Sale. 

Levi  N.  Beebe, 
Mrs.  L.  N.  Beebe, 

both  by  letter  fr.  West  Bloomfield. 

Jennie  K.  Miller, 

wife  of  Rev.  Henry  T. 
1872 

Mrs.  Esther  Benedict, 

by  letter  from  Perinton. 

Charlotte  Lovejoy, 

wife  of  Edward. 

Catharine  A.   Norton, 

wife  of  John. 

Catharine  J.  Gillis, 

Mrs.  Frank  Gallup. 

Elizabeth  Boughton, 

Mrs.  James  Va  il. 


98 


Cora  Osborne, 
Lillian  Bacon, 
Alice  Levet, 
■Julia  Lewis, 

Mrs.  Moore. 

Lena  Norton, 
Daniel  Wilder, 
Anna  A.  Covill, 

w.  of  Darius  Ij.  by  1.  fr.  Canandaigua 

Carrie  L.  Dryer, 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Wilder, 

by  letter  from  Brockport. 
Clarissa  Bostwick, 

by  letter  from  Palmyra. 

James  F.  Draper,  M.  D. 
Amelia  Townsend, 

wife  of  Doctor  Townsend. 

Mrs.  Catharine  E.  Risely, 

Mrs.  Stephen  J.  Tallmadge. 

Delia  VanNess, 

w.  of  Cassius  C 1.  fr.  Woodstock.N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Betsey  Dibble, 
Emeline  Dibble, 

by  letter  from  East  Bloomfield . 
1873 

Anna  Svvezey, 

Mrs.  Concklin. 

Cora  Jane  Swezey, 
Celia  Christopher, 

Mrs  George  T .  Ewers 


Rev.  William  B.  Marsh, 
Pastor  from  December  7, 
1873,    to     November     22, 

1875- 

1874 
Joseph  Waghorne, 
Rachel  Waghorne, 

wife  of  Joseph . 

Mrs.  E.  A.  Marsh, 

wife  of  Rev.  William  B. 


Mary  Goodnow, 

wife  of  Truman. 

Jennie  Thorne, 

by  letter  from  Rochester,  N.Y. 

Mrs.  Helen  Beach, 

by  letter  from  East  Bloomfield, (Mrs. 
Joseph  P .  Ha  thaway . ) 

Anna  Dunlap, 
Edwin  D.  Hoyt, 
Adelia  E.  Hoyt, 

wife  of  Edwin  D.  by  1.  fr.  Mendon, 
1875 

Mrs.  Elizebeth  B.  Tracy, 

by  letter  from  Ireland . 
1876 

Rev.  Robert  Exnis,  Pastor 
from  February  12,  1876,  to 
August  5,  1877. 

William  McMurdy. 

Mary  Painton, 

Ida  Longyear, 

Mrs.  Charles  Ketchum. 

Henry  R.  Robbins, 

Anna  Robbins, 

by  letter  from  Knoxboro,  N.  Y. 

Mary  A.  Camp, 

Mrs.  Charles  Brown. 

Emily  M.  Levet, 
Josephine  C.  Brizee, 
Myrtie  May  Thompson, 
Hattie  Moore, 
Sarah  Ann  Brizee, 

wife  of  Benjamin. 
1877 

Mary  Force, 

wife  of  Charles. 

Elder,  John  Kilbourn, 

by  1.  fr.  Knoxboro,  X.  Y. 

Catharine  Kilbourn, 

wife  of  John. 

Mrs.  Lillian  Moore, 

by  1.  f  r.  Battle  Creek  Mich. 


99 


18/8 

Rev.  Thomas  E.  Babb, 
Pastor  from  February  3, 
1S78,  to  June  3,  1883. 

Carrie  Osborne, 

>[is.  Mark  T.  Powell. 

Mrs.  Marietta  Sizer, 
Ida  Conov^er, 

Mrs.  Georg-e  Shanks. 

Harriet  S.  Gillis, 

wife  of  William  W. 

Daniel  Wilder, 
Mary  Wilder, 

wife  of  Daniel,  byl.  fr.  Webster. 

Mary  Ann  Draper, 

wife  of  Dr.  James  F. 

Mrs.  Babb, 

wife  of   Rev.  Thomas  E.   by  1.   fr. 
Oxford,  Mass. 

1879         • 

Clarence  P.  Kilmer, 

byl.  fr.  Ohio. 

1880. 

George  F.  Swezey, 
William  B.  Gallup, 
George  M.  Shanks, 
James  Haslip, 
Mrs.  Fanny  Haslip, 

by  1.  fr.  Parma  Centre. 

Mrs.  Maggie  McGee. 
Julia  Adams, 

wife  of  Freeman, 

Elizabeth  Timmerman, 

wife  of  Benjamin. 

1 88 1 
James  G.  Vail, 

by  1.  fr.   f Geneva. 

Laura  McD.  Osborne. 

wife  of  Wm.  B.  by  1.  fr.  Uochester. 
1882 

Hell  Norton, 

Mrs.  Frank  Hopkins 


Mrs.  Laura  Sibbits. 

1883 
Albert  S.  Bacon, 

Minister  at  Oneida  Castle. 

Mrs.  Sabra  Covill. 


The    following  names  are 
found    on     the    church    roll 
without  date  of  admission. 
Rachael  Ball, 

wife  of  Dr.  William. 

Eliza  Root, 
Lucinda  Norton. 
1884 
Rev.  Clarnce  W.  Backus, 
Pastor  from  Jul}-  i,  1 884 to 


Anna  B.  Higinbotham, 

wife  of  W.  A.  by  1  fr.  E.  Bioomfield. 

Susan  W.  Backus, 

wife  of  Rev.C.  W.  byl.fr.  Prince- 
town  . 

Ellen  Wilbur, 

Mrs.  Torry  Moffit,  byl    fr.    Rose. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilbur. 

I)y  letter  fr.  Rose. 

Cora  French, 
Minnie  Bacon, 

wife  of  Orrin  S.  Jr. 

Carrie  E.  Phillips, 
Nellie  Longyear, 

Mrs.  L.  H.  Stewart. 

Alice  E.  Moore, 

Mrs.  Gardner  Thomas. 

Charles  A.  Moore, 
Gardner  G.  Thomas, 
Mark  T.  Powell, 
Mrs.  Cora  J.  Phillips, 

by  1 .  f r.  East  Mendon 

Clara  Benson, 

Marian  Estella  Vandenberg, 


lOO 


1885 

Mercy  E.  Covill. 

wife  of  A.  L.  by  l.fr.  E.  Bloomfield. 

Georgia  McVean, 

wife  of  David  A.  by  1.  fr.Scottsville 

Ziba  C.  Curtice, 

Anna  Day  Curtice, 

wife  of  Ziba  C  botli  by  1.  ir.  Webster. 

Marvin  A.  Wilbur, 
byl.  tr.  Rose. 

Lizzie  S.  Bacon, 
Jennie  O.  Bacon, 
Nellie  J.  Heath, 
Lousia  Schroth, 
Cora  D.  Timmerman, 

Mrs.  A.  N.  Holcomb. 

Cora  E.  Wheeler, 
Grace  L.  Phillips, 

Mrs.  John  S.  Boug-hton. 

Miranda  C.  Hill, 

wife  of  William . 

Cynthia  S.  Webster, 

wife  of  Otis. 

Jessie  M.  Simonds, 

wife  of  George. 

William  A.  Higinbotham, 
Harriet  B.  Tiffany, 
Minnie  B.  Tiffany, 
Fannie  L.  Timmerman, 
Viola  G.   Adams, 
Cora  E.  Boughton, 
Nellie  Pestol, 
Alice  Pestol, 
Viola  Farnsworth, 
Cola  L.  Gillis, 
C.  Lewis  Simonds, 
Bertha  L.  Simonds, 

wife  of  C.  Lewis, 
Z.  Gertrude  Wisner, 

wife  of  Ralph  S. 

George  Simonds, 


George  D.  Sidwa}-, 

Agnes  H.  Levet, 

wife  of  Oliver. 
William  Conover, 
Milton  P.  Cornford. 
Eugene  A.    Timmerman, 
Stafford  S.   Lusk, 
Amelia  Norton, 

Rachel  Vandenbergh, 
wife  of  Dow. 

Alfred  B.  Levet, 

Benjamin  F.  Timmerman, 

Charles  A.   Phillips. 

Irene  Green, 
wife  of  Baldwin, 

Emma  I.  Green. 
Mrs .  Charles  Bowermau. 

Nettie  VanVechten. 

Ella  L  Peck. 

Mary  S.  Lane, 
wife  of  Albert. 

Celestine  L  Boltwood, 
wife  of  Emmet. 

Emmet  Boltwood, 
Agnes  Bell  West, 
William  B.  Moore, 
Freeman  E.  Adams, 
Frank  Ashley, 
Rose  Ellen  Underwood, 

Jane  Howland, 

wife  of  Wilbur. 
Maggie  Bennet, 

vrite  of  Amos  J.  by  1  fr.  Prlncetown. 
Milo  Freeman  Webster, 
Ralph  S.  Wisner, 
1886 

Harriet  Bement, 

wife  of  Hem-y. 
Ida  M.  Wilbur. 

wife  of  Marvin  A. 


lOI 


Anna  E.  Backus, 
Jennie  M.  Sidell, 
Albert  E.  Sale, 
Adelia  M.  Sale, 

wife  O!  Albert  E. 

Emma  Brusie, 

Frank  A.  Hopkins, 

Jennie  E.  Newton, 
wife  of  Willis  D. 

Mary  L.  Jones, 

wife  of  Asa 

Susie   Pimm, 

Ml-:..  Chi  Ids 

Harry  Pimm, 
Emma  A.  Eox, 

wife  Of  Frederick . 
Wilbur  C.  Howland,  Jr. 
George  Peifer, 
Minnie  M.  Rankin, 

Eva  Smith  Phillips, 

wifeof  Natliatiiel,  by  1.  tr.  Kochester. 

1887        . 

Anna  E.  Jacobs, 
George  Warren, 

Jennie  Webster  Gallup, 

wife  of  Wm  B  .  by  1.  fr.  Geueseo. 
P'lora  Craft. 
Kittie  Grinnell, 
Aaron  N.  Longyear, 
Charles  Longyear, 
Sadie  McVean, 
John  Rupprecht, 
George  H.  Frederick, 
Minnie  J.  F"rederick, 
Elida  F"aulkner, 
Minnie  A.  Miller, 
Ella   M.  Brown, 
Cassius  C  VanNcss, 


F^"ed  W.  Good  now, 
Willie  J.  Stafford. 
Oscar  Longyear, 
Minnie  A.  Longyear, 

wifeof  Oscar. 

Charles  B.    Morgan, 

Chloe  L.  Payne, 

David  A.  McV^ean, 

John  C.  O'Brien, 

Mary  L.  Draper. 

Jennie  Stafford, 

Milton  Stafford, 

Catharine  A.  Stafford, 
wifeof  Milton. 

Clarence  Brusie, 

Charles  Bowerman, 

Charles  Judevine, 

Francis  Judevine, 
wile  of  Charles. 

Albert  Lane, 

Mattie  A.  Bowerman, 

Martha  L.  Bowerman 

Florence  Bowerman, 

D.  Stuart  McVean, 

Mrs.  Eusebie  Eighme. 

Will  J.  Bloodgood, 

Hattie  L.  Bloodgood, 
wifeof  WUIJ. 

George  H.  French, 

Delia  A.  French, 
wifeof  George. 

Henry  Bement, 

Marcus  G.  Doyle, 

Chester  S.  Gilman, 

Frances  Bowers, 

Willis  D.  Newton, 

bvl.  fr.  Manchester.  N.  Y. 


102 


i888 

Alice  Isabel  Reid, 

Mary  Stanton  Shaw, 
wile  of  Gideon . 

Libbie  C.  Moore, 

wife  of  Charles  A . 

Julia  A.  Preston, 

wife  of  Edward. 


Herman  Baldwin  Greeiv 

Ida  Emily  Green, 
wife  of  Herman  B . 

Alfred  D.  Smith, 
Cora  B.  Smith, 
wife  of  Alfred  D. 


JD. 


THE    ROLL    OF    SABBATH-SCHOOL 
MEMBERSHIP,  JANUARY,   1888. 


Board  of  Government, 


THE  SESSION. 


Rev.  C.  W.  Backus,  Moderator. 
Elders. — Albert  Simonds,  D.  Henry  Osborne,  Stafford 
S.  Lusk,  Stephen  J.  Tallmadge,   William    A.  Higinbotham, 
C.  Lewis  Simonds. 


OFFICERS. 

The  Pastor,  ex-officio,  General  Superintendent. 
Charles  A.  Moore,  Assistant  Superintendent,  in  charge 
of  Senior  Department. 

William  B.  Gallup,  Treasurer. 

Harry  Pinne,  Secretary. 

Milton  Cornford,  Librarian. 

William  B.  Moore,  Assistant  Librarian. 

Miss  Sadie  McVean,  Missionary  Treasurer. 


SENIOR      DEPART  IVIENX. 

Elder  D.  Henry  Osborne  s.  Class. 

Mrs.  Albert  Simonds,  Mrs,  S.  J.  Tallmadge. 

"     George  Clapper,  "     Delia  MacKallar, 

"     Sarah  Sharp,  "     Otis  Webster, 


I04 


Mrs.  John  S.  Gillis, 
Sabra  Covill, 
"     James  Ransom, 
'     James  Sizer, 
"     D.  H.  Osborne, 
"     Emma  Levet, 
"     Henry  H'.  Brown, 
"     John  Vandenbergh, 


Mrs.  Porter  Rawson, 
"     John  VanVechten, 

George  West. 
"     Dow  Vandenbergh, 
"     Wilham  Conover, 
"     Henry  Bement, 
"     George  Curtice. 


Mrs.  WilliaiJi  Gal  hip's  C/ass. 


Mrs. 


Benjamin  Timmerman,     Mrs. 

Edward  Lovejoy, 

James  F.  Draper, 

O.  S.  Bacon,  Sr.,  " 

Asa  Jones,  " 

Edward   Norton,  " 

George  Sidway,  " 

Stafford  S.  Lusk, 

Nathaniel   Phillips,  " 

Milton  Stafford, 

Charles  Judevine,  Miss 

Daniel  Barnet,  '' 

Gifford  Bowerman, 


William  Hill, 
Edward  Boughton, 
John  Conover, 
Frank  Heath, 
Edward  Brown, 
John  Hotaling, 
John  McCarthy, 
Wilbur  Howland, 
Bruce  Moore, 
Charles  VanVechten, 
Augusta  Wilder, 
Sophia  Clark. 


Elder  Stephen  J.  Tallmadge  s,  Class. 


James  F.  Draper,  M.   D., 
Mr.  Edward  Norton, 

"     Walter  Norton, 

"     Bruce  Moore, 

'•    Otis  Webster, 

"     William  Conover, 

"     Hart  Boughton, 

"    John  O'Brien; 

"     George  Sidway, 

"    Wm.  W.  Gillis, 


Mr.  Nathaniel  I'hillips, 

"  James  Longyear, 

"  John  Van  Vechten, 

"  Benjamin  Timmerman, 

"  Dow  Vandenbergh, 

"  John  Vandenbergh, 

"  Cassius  C.  Van   Ness, 

"  Milton  Stafford, 

"  Frances  Bowers, 

"  Charles  Moore. 


105 


Mr.  Marvin  A. 

Mr.  William  Green, 

"  George  Shanks, 

"  Ziba   C.  Curtice, 

"  Emmet  Boltwood, 

■'  William  B.  Osborne, 

"  Nicholas  Fredericks, 

"  Freeman  Adams, 

"  Frank  Gallup, 

"  Edward  Winans, 

"  Edgar  Preston, 

"  Fred   Cooley, 


mibur's  Class. 

Mr.  George  Frederick, 
James  Ransom, 
George  Curtice, 
Hopper  Chase, 
Ralph  Wisner, 
Willis  D.  Newton, 
Clarence  Brusie, 
Albert  Lane, 
Daniel  Barnet, 
Herman  Green, 
Alfred   Smith. 


Elder  William  A.  Hio;inbothaiii  s  Class. 


Mrs. 


Miss 


William  Green, 
Freeman  Adams, 
Benjamin  Brizee, 
Emma  Winans, 
Mary  Lane, 
William  W.  Gillis, 
Charles  Force, 
Edward  Preston, 
Leslie  Loomis, 
Willis  D.  Newton, 
Ziba  C.  Curtice, 
Marvin  Wilbur, 
Reese  Reed, 
James  Vail, 
A.  B.  Rowley. 
Emma  Raws  on 


Miss  Lena  Norton, 
"     Cora  Wheeler, 

"    Miller, 

Mrs.  Emmet  Boltwood, 
"     Amos  J.  Bennet, 
"     Wm.   A.   Higinbotham, 
"     Fred  Cooley, 
"     Mary  Turner, 
"      Hattie  Bloodgood, 
"     Oliver  Levet, 
"     Ida  Beraent, 
"     Herman  Green, 
Miss  Viola  P\arnsworth, 

"      Emma  Brusie, 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Lane. 


Elder  Stafford  S.  Lusk's,  Clas 


Mr.  Frank  Hopkins, 
"     Oscar  Longyear. 
''    Ale.xander  P.  Gillis, 


Mr.  John  Boughton, 
"    Wilbur  Howland, 
'•    Charles  Bowf.rman, 


io6 


Mr.  George  Frederick,  Jr. 
Charles  Longyear, 
Edward  Timmerman, 
Albert  Sale, 
Charles  Morgan, 
George  Bement, 

C.  Lewis  Simonds, 
George  Ransom, 
George  Hill, 


Mr.   George  Simonds, 
Milo  Webster, 
Frank  Henry, 
Charles   Boughton, 
Ray  Ransom, 
Aaron  Longyear, 
Fred  Goodnow, 
William   Bloodgood, 
George  Peifer. 


^]r.   fa  Dies  G.    J^azV's  Class. 


Mrs.  C.  Lewis  Simonds, 

"  Charles  Bowerman, 

"  Oscar  Longyear. 

"  Wilber  Howland, 

*'  Herman  Boughton, 

"  Jennie  Gallup, 

*'  George  Shanks, 

"  George  Ewers, 

"  William  B.  Gallup, 

"  Alfred  Smith, 

"  George  French, 


Mrs.  George  Simonds, 

Miss  Alice  Levet, 
"      Emily  M.  Levet, 
"     Sarah  Harrington, 
"     Ella  Henry, 
"      Elida  Faulkner, 
"      Estella  Vandenberg, 
"     Esther  Reed, 
"     Frank  Henry, 
"     Frankie  Strono-. 


AJiss   Cora  Osborne's   Class. 


Mrs.  John  Boughton, 

"     Ray  Ransom, 
Miss  Mary  Draper. 

"     Alice  Tiffany, 

"     Nettie  VanVechten, 

"     Flora  Craft, 

"     Kittie    Grinnell, 
Miss  Ca. lie  Phillips, 


Miss  Jennie  Stafford, 

"  Clara  Benson, 

"  Millie  Norton, 

"  Viola  Adams, 

"  Ella  Brown, 

"  Mattie  A.  Bowerman. 

"  Martha  L.  Bowerman, 

"  Florence  Bowerman. 


I07 


Mrs.  Cora  J.  Phillip's  Class. 


Miss  Cora  Boughton, 
"     Nellie  Heath. 
"     Sadie  McVean 
Mabel  Draper, 
"     Agnes  West, 
'•     Maggie  Howland, 
"     Lizzie  Shanks, 
"  Zobel, 


Miss  Jennie  Bacon, 

Ethel  VVaghorne, 
Minnie  Tiffany, 

"     Fann)'  Timmermam, 

"      Ella  J.  Peck, 
Minnie  Preston, 
Sophia  Henry. 


Mr.  Williavi  B.  Gallup  s  Class. 


Mr.  Webster  Heath', 

"  Eugene  Timmerman, 

"  Fred  Lev^et, 

"  William  Hill.  Jr., 

"  John  Bennet, 

"  William  J.  Stafford, 

"  Allen  Ransom, 

"  John  Zobel, 


Mr.  William  Moore, 
Lee  Wilbur, 
Charles  Phillips, 
"     James  Benson, 
"     John  Rupprecht, 
"     L.  Humphreyville, 
"      Herman  Miller, 
"     Albert  Moore. 


Mrs.   Charles  Moore  s  Class. 


Miss  Gertie  Cooley, 
"     Myrtie  Preston, 
*'     Maggie  Hotaling, 
"     Alice  J.  Reid, 
Libbie  Conover. 


Miss  Minnie  Cooley, 
"     Jennie  Sidell. 
"     Ella  Waghorne, 
"     Maud  Phillips. 
"     Mabel  Conover, 


JUNIOR  AND     PRIX4ARY  DEPARTMENT. 


OFFICERS. 


Mrs.  David  A.  McVean,  \  ^         .   ,      ,      , 
TVT      wTw       T)  r\  u  ,■  Supermtendents, 

Mrs.  Willian  B.  Osborne,  \       ^ 

Miss  Mary  Osborne,  Librarian, 

Mr.  Stuart  McVean,  Treasurer. 


io8 


J/iss   Lizzie  Bacon's    Class. 

Robert   Higinbotham,  Arthur  Turner, 

Charles  Sale,  Ralph  McCarthy, 

Watie  Wisner,  George  Boltwood, 

D.  Henry  (3sborne,  Jr.  Howard   Bloodgood. 


Mrs.  Orrin  S.  Bacon,   fr.  Class. 

Townsend  Curtice,  Wm.    Bushnell  Osborne,   Jr. 

Orrin  S.  Bacon,  the  III,  John  Levet, 

Earnest   Hopkins,  Marie  Bloodgood, 

Frederick  C.  Green,  William   Green. 


Miss  Emma  L.  Hammond  s.  Class. 

Minnie  Levet,  Edith  Lane, 

Carrie  Shanks,  Cora  Peck, 

Agnes  Higinbotham,  Camilla  Sale, 

Florence  Judevine,  Laura  Lane. 
Jessie  Gallup, 


Miss  Alice  Parle  s  Class. 

Eva  Ransom.  Ruth  Parmele, 

Florence  Adams,  Leona  Adams, 

Lola  Curtice,  H attic  Winans, 

L'ma  Reed,  V'era  Reed, 

Edith  Timmerman,  Blanch  Phillips, 

Myrtie  May,  Clara  Chase, 

Lois  Grinnel.  Ina  E.  Green. 


Mrs.  Frank  Hopkins  Class. 

Clark  Simonds.  Joseph  Chase, 

Delois   Bennet,  Fred  Barnet 

Allen  C.  Preston,  Charles  Powell, 

John   McCarthy,  Daniel  Sullivan, 

Earnest  Peglow,  Albert  L''nderhill, 

Fred  Peck,  George  Mayo. 


I09 


Mrs.  William  Gj'coi's  C/ass. 


Agnes  Wisner, 
Susie  Sidway, 
Bessie  Goodnow, 


iMyra  Heath, 
Minnie  Peglovv, 
Rachella  Bennet. 


J/rs.  Cassius  C.  Fa/iA^iss'  C/ass. 


Ferris  Van  Ness, 
Charles  Peck, 
Clarence  Boltwood, 
Robert  Childs, 


J.  Trumbull  Backus,  Jr. 
Howard  McVean, 
Homer  Boughton, 
Charles  Waghorne. 


J/rs.  C.  W.  Backus'  Class. 


Stuart  McVean. 
Porter  Rawson, 
Ray  Vandenburgh, 
Charles  Preston, 
Walter  Childs, 
George  McCarthy, 
Fred  Peglow, 
Charles  Mosher, 
John  Bowerman, 
Tames  Covill, 


Chester  Green, 
Linas  Boughton, 
John  Peglow, 
Joshua  E.  Bennet, 
Simon  Hotaling, 
William  Waghorne, 
John  Bennet, 
Mac  Mosher, 
Silas  Bowerman. 


THE     FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH,  VICTOR,  N.  Y. 


The  Civil  and  Church  Law  Governing  the  Church 
AND    Society. 


CIVIL   LAW,    statutory. 

The  societ}-  is  to  have  a  board  of  trustees,  not  exceeding 
nine  in  number,  nor  less  than  three. 

The  board  of  trustees,  as  thus  constituted,  are  to  be 
divided  into  three  classes,  "  to  the  end  that  the  third  part 
of  the  whole  number,  as  nearly  as  possible,  maybe  annuall}' 
chosen." 

NOTICE   OF   ELECTION. 

"  One  month  "  before  the  expiration  of  the  of^ce  of 
any  of  the  said  trustees,  notice  "  in  writing''  is  to  be  given 
by  the  trustees  to  the  minister,  or  in  case  of  his  death  or 
absence,  to  the  elders  or  deacons,  "specifying  the  names  of 
the  trustees  whose  times  will  expire,  and  the  said  mini-ter, 
or  in  case  of  his  death  or  absence,  one  of  the  said  church 
ofificers,  shall  proceed  to  duly  notify  the  congregation  of 
said  vacancies  and  the  time  for  the  election  of  their 
successors. 


1 1 1 

Such  notice  is  required  tcT  be  given  •' fifteen  days"  before 
the  da}'  of  the  election,  and  "on  two  successive  Sabbaths" 
at  the  stated  meeting  for  pubHc  worship. 

The  law  provides,  that  when  an  election  is  invalid 
''through  defect  of  due  notice,  or  otherwise,  the  trustees 
of  said  church,  congregation  or  religious  society,  or  a 
majority  of  them,  shall  immediately  thereafter  give  notice 
thereof,  in  writing,"  as  prescribed  for  the  regular  election 
and  the  election  be  held  as  herein  prescribed. 

ELECTION. 

At  the  election  of  trustees  "  two  "  elders  of  the  church 
are  to  "  preside,"  "  receive  the  votes  of  the  electors,"  and 
be  "  the  ofificers  to  return  the  names  of  the  persons  \\ho  b}' 
plurality  of  voices,  shall  be  elected  to  serve  as  trustees," 
and  these  returning  of^cers  shall  "immediately"  thereafter 
certify  under  their  hands  and  seals,  the  names  of  the  persons 
elected  to  serve  as  trustees,  ''  and  such  certificate  shall 
entitle  the  persons  elected  to  act  as  trustees." 

"  And  in  case  any  trustee  shall  die,  or  refuse  to  act, 
or  remove,  within  a  year,  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  by 
the  trustees  as  aforesaid,  and  a  new  election  appointed  and 
held,  and  another  trustee  be  elected  in  his  stead,  in  manner 
aforesaid." 

VOTERS. 

At  such  election,  no  one  ma\-  vote  until  the}'  have  been 
"a  stated  attendant  on  divine  worship  in  said  church  . .  at 

least    one    year    bef  >re     such     election,    and    shall     have 

contributed  to  the  support  of  said  church according 

to  the  usages  and  customs  thereof,  and  that  the  -clerk  to 
said  trustees  shall  keep  a  register  of  the  names  of  all  such 
persons  as  desire  to  become  stated  hearers  in  the  said  church 
.  .  .  and  shall  therein  note  the  time  when  such  request 
was  made,  and  the  said  clerk  shall  attend  all  such-  subse- 
quent elections,  in  order  to  test  the  qualifications  of  such 
electors,  in  case  the  same  should  be  questioned." 

Male  and  female,  of  full  age,  comph'ing  with  the  ato\c 
conditions  are,  by  law,  entitled  to  vote. 


I  12 


TERM    OF   OFFICE   AND   VACANCIES. 

Trustees  "  hold  their  offices  during  the  term  for  which 
they  were  elected,  and  until  their  successors  are  chosen." 

A  vacancy  is  created  by  expiration  of  term  of  office, 
and  when  any  trustee  resigns,  or  ceases  to  be  a  member  of 
the  society,  or  ceases  to  statedly  attend  upon  and  support 
its  services,  then  "  his  place  shall  be  declared  vacant  by  a 
notice  of  the  board  of  trustees  to  the  church."  or  society 

"and  said  church shall  proceed  to  fill  the  vacancy, 

as  provided  in  the  above  mentioned  act." 

Section  i6.  "Whenever  a  religious  corporation  becomes 
dissolved  by  any  law  of  the  state,  or  through  neglect  of  any 
such  law,  the  religions  society  connected  with  such  corpo- 
ration may  reincorporate  itself,  and  thereupon,  all  the  real 
and  personal  property  which  did  belong  to  such  dissolved 
corporation,  at  the  time  of  its  dissolution,  shall  vest  in  such 
new  corporation  for  the  said  society.  " 

The  number  of  trustees  may  be  increased  or  diminished 
at  any  annual  meeting,  provided  notice  of  such  shall  have 
been  given  at  least  two  weeks  before,  and  that  the  whole 
number  shall  not  exceed  nine  trustees,  nor  be  less  than 
three. 

POWERS   OF    TRUSTEES. 

The  trustees  are  to  "  have  and  use  a  common  seal, 
and  may  renew  and  alter  the  same  at  their  pleasure." 

They  are  "  authorized  and  empowered  "  to  take  into 
their  possession  and  custody  all  the  teuipoi-alities  belonging 
to  the  church,  both  real  or  personal  estate,  and  however  the 
same  may  have  been  acquired.  "  Also  by  their  corporate 
name  or  title,  to  sue  and  be  sued  in  all  courts  of  law  or 
equity,  and  to  recover,  hold,  and  enjoy  all  the  debts, 
demands,  rights  and  privileges,  and  all  churches,  meeting 
houses,  parsonages  and  burying  places,  with  the  appurten- 
ances,  and  all  estates   belonging    to    such  church,.. in 

whatsoever  manner  the  same  may  have  been  acquired,"  etc. 


113 

Section  4-  "And  also  to  purchase  and  hold  other 
real  and  personal  estate,  and  to  demise,  lease  and  improve 

the  same    for  the  use  of  said  church, etc."     "Also  to 

repair  and  alter  their  churches  or  meeting-houses,  and  to 
erect  others  if  necessary,  and  to  erect  dwelling-houses  for  the 
use  of  their  ministers,  and  school-houses  and  other  buildings 

for  the  use  of  said  church, and  such  trustees  shall  also 

have  power  to  make  rules  or  orders  for  managing  the  tem- 
poral affairs   of    such    church, and    to    dispose    of    all 

moneys  belonging  thereunto  ;  and  to  regulate  and  order  the 
renting  of  the  pews  in  their  churches  or  meeting  houses, 
and  all  other  matters  relating  to  the  temporal  concerns  and 
revenues  of  such  church,  congregation,  or  society;  and  to 
appoint  a  clerk  and  treasurer  of  their  board,  and  a  collector 
to  collect  and  receive  the  said  rents  and  revenues  :  and  to 
regulate  the  fees  to  be  allowed  to  such  clerk,  treasurer  and 
collector,  and  them,  or  either  of  them,  to  remove  at  pleasure 
and  appoint  others  in  their  stead  ;  and  such  clerk  shall  enter 
all  rules  and  orders  made  by  such  trustees,  and  payments 
ordered  by  them,  in  a  book  to  be  provided  by  them  for  that 
purpose." 

Any  two  trustees  can  call  a  meeting  of  the  board  at 
any  time. 

A  majority  of  the  members  of  the  board  being  lawfully 
con\ened  constitutes  a  quorum,  and  "shall  be  competent  to 
do  and  perform  all  matters  and  things  which  such  trustees 
are  authorized  or  required  to  do  or  perform." 

A  majority  vote  of  the  trustees  present  at  a  lawful 
meeting  shall  determine  all  questions  and  business. 

"In  case  of  an  equal  division,  the  presiding  trustee  shall 
have  a  casting  vote." 

LIMITATIONS   OF   POWERS. 

Sections.  Provides  that  the  trustees  shall  not  "fix  or 
ascertain  any  salary  to  be  paid  to  any  minister"  "of  any 
church,"  "but  the  same  shall  be  ascertained  by  a  majority  of 
persons  entitled  to  elect  trustees,  at  a  meeting  to  be  called 
for  that  purpose,"  and  such  salaries  duly  ratified  in  writing, 
shall  "be  paid  by  the  said  trustees  out  of  the  revenues  of 
such  church,  congregation,  or  society." 


114 

"  The  trustees  of  any  church,  congregation,  or  rcHgious, 
society,  incorporated  under  said  section  three  of  the  above- 
mentioned  act,  shall  administer  the  temporalities  thereof, 
and  hold  and  apply  the  estate  and  property  belonging  there- 
to, and  the  revenues  of  the  same  for  the  benefit  of  said 
corporation,  according  to  the  discipline,  rules  and  usages  of 
the  denomiation  to  which  the  church  members  of  the  cor- 
poration belong  ;  and  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  trustees 
to  divert  such  estate,  property,  or  revenues  to  any  other 
purpose,  except  towarcl  the  support  and  maintenance  of  any 
religious,  benevolent  or  other  institution  connected  with 
such  church,  congregation  or  religious  society." 

Section  ii.  Provides  that  in  the  sale  of  church  real 
estate,  application  must  be  made  to  a  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  or  a  judge  of  the  County  Court,  for  an  order  for  sale 
of  any  real  estate  belonging  to  the  corporation,  and  that 
such  justice  or  judge  shall  direct  the  application  of  the 
moneys  arising  from  such  sale,  "  to  such  uses  as  the  same 
corporation,  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of"  such 
justice,  or  judge,  "  shall  conceive  to  be  most  for  the  interest 
of  the  society  to  which  the  real  estate  so  sold  did  belong." 

SHEDS. 

No  lease  or  deed  is  given  in  this  society  for  the  land 
upon  which  horse-sheds  are  built. 

The  trustees  could  not  legally  divert  such  property 
from  church  uses. 

All  such  property  is  he'd  b\-  individuals  in  consideration 
of  their  being  stated  attendants  upon  the  services  and 
worship  of  the  church. 

When  such  attendance  and  its  relation  ceases,  their 
rights  in  such  shed  property  are  vacated  b}-  their  own    act. 

Shed  holders  cannot  sell  any  rights  they  do  not  possess, 
therefore  cannot  sell  their  sheds  to  those  not  stated  attend- 
ants upon  the  church. 

The  trustees  have  established  an  ecjuitable  plan  of 
adjustment,  when  shed  owners  choose  to  change  their  church 
connections. 

The  trustees  and  the  shed  holder,  each  choose  a  person 
to  represent  them.       These  two    representatives    choose    a 


115 

third.     Tlie  three  constitute  a  board  of  appraisement,  the 
trustees  taking;"  the  shed  at  its  actual  vakic    as  appraised. 
PEW    RENT1N(;. 

Tlie  pews  of  this  society  are  sold  anually  to  the  hit^hest 
bidder,  the  bid  being  either  for  the  choice  of  pews,  or  for  a 
specified  pevv^  as  the  trustees  see  fit  at  the  time.  The  annual 
sale  occurs  about  the  first  Thursday  in  December. 

Persons  not  present  at  the  sale,  and  newcomers  during 
the  year,  can  obtain  such  sittings  as  may  be  unoccupied,  by 
application  to   the  trustees. 


THE  CHURCH  LAW. 

Involving  also  the  Mutual  Relations  of  Session 
AND  Trustees. 

In  general,  the  trustees  are  concerned  with  the  tempor- 
alities ;  and  the  session  with  the  spiritualities,  including  the 
control  and  management  of  the  house  for  purposes  of 
religious  worship  and  all  that  pertains  thereto. 

At  certain  points  their  paths  meet,  and  are  guided  by 
the  following  rules: 

STATE    LAW. 

"The  trustees shall  administer  the  temporali- 
ties thereof,  and  hold  and  apply  the  estate  and  property 
belonging  thereto;  and  the  revenues  of  the  same,  for  the 
benefit  of  said  corporation,  according  to  the  discipline,  rules 
and  usages  of  the  denomination  to  which  the  church  members 
of  the  corporation  belong." 

RESPECTIVE      RICxHTS      OF      TRUSTEES      AND      SESSION      IN 
CONTROLLING   THE   HOUSE. 

"  Where  a  church  edifice  is  held  by  trustees,  the  legal 
title,  is  vested  in  them;  and  having  the  title,  the  custody  and 
care  of  the  property,  pertains  to  them  for  the  uses  and 
purposes  for  which  they  hold  the  trust.  These  uses  and 
purposes  are  the  worship  of  God,  and  the  employment  of 
such  other  means  of  spiritual  improvement  as  may  be 
consistent  with  the  scriptures,  and  according  to  the  order 
of  the  church;  to  which  may  be  added,  congregational 
meetings  for  business  relating  to  the  church  or  corporation. 


1 


ii6 

By  the  constitution  of  the  church,  the  session  is  charged 
with  the  supervision  of  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  congre- 
gation ;  and  this  includes  the  right  to  direct  and  control  the 
use  of  the  building  for  the  purposes  of  worship,  as  required 
or  established  by  the  special  usage  of  the  particular  church, 
or  the  directory  for  worship.  This  being  the  principal 
purpose  of  the  trust,  the  trustees  are  bound  to  respect  the 
wishes  and  action  of  the  session  as  to  the  use  and  occupation 
of  the  house  of  worship.  The  session  is  the  organ  or  agent 
through  whom  the  trustees  are  informed  how  and  when  the 
church  building  is  to  be  occupied;  and  the  trustees  have  no 
right  to  refuse  compliance  w  ith  the  action  of  the  session  in 
this  regard.  These  are  general  principles  applicable  to  all 
cases,  except,  perhaps,  in  some  localities  where  special 
statutory  enactments  by  competent  authority  may  confer 
other  rights,  or  prescribe  other  duties." 

"  But  there  are  other  purposes  for  which  the  use  of  the 
church  edifice  is  sometimes  desired,  which,  though  they 
partake  of  a  religious  or  intellectual  character,  do  not  fall 
within  the  class  of  objects  which  are  properly  described  as 
belonging  to  the  worship  of  that  congregation.  The  house 
may  not  be  used  for  such  purposes  without  the  consent  of 
the  trustees  ;  and  this  consent  they  may  properly,  in  their 
discretion,  refuse.  As  the  function  to  determine  what  is  a 
proper  use  of  the  house  is  vested  in  the  session, the  trustees 
have  no  legal  right  to  grant  the  use  of  it  for  purposes  which 
the  session  disapprove.  And  as  the  strict  rights  of  those 
who  are  represented  by  the  session  to  the  use  of  the  house, 
are  limited  to  the  worship  of  that  congregation,  the  trustees 
are  under  no  obligation  to  grant  it  for  any  other  purpose." 

"When  the  trustees  grant  the  use  of  the  house  to  others, 
contrary  to  the  expressed  wishes  of  the  session,  and,  as  they 
suppose,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  cause  of  religion  and  of  that 
church,  the  proper  appeal  is,  first,  to  the  persons  composing 
the  ^congregation  to  Avhom  the  trustees  are  responsible ; 
secondly,  to  the  Presbytery,  for  their  advice  ;  and  finally,  if 
necessary,  to  the  legal  tribunals." 


The   above  action   of  the  highest  ecclesiastical  court  is 
sustained  by  the  following  decision   of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States. 


117 

"  In  the  use  of  the  property  for  all  religious  services  or 
ecclesiastical  purposes,  the  Trustees  are  under  the  control  of 
the  session."      Digest,  p.  ill. 

SUl'REME   COURT   DECISION — EXTRACT. 

"  One  or  two  propositions,  which  seem  to  admit  of  no 
controversy,  are  proper  to  be  noticed  in  this  connection.     1, 

Both  by  the  act  of  the Legislature,  crtatingthe  trustees 

of  the  church  a  body  corporate,  and  by  the  acknowledged 
rules  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  the  trustees  were  the  mere 
nominal  title-holders  and  custodians  of  the  church  property; 
and  other  trustees  were,  or  could  be  elected  by  the  congre- 
gation, to  supply  their  places,  once  in  every  two  years.  2, 
That  in  the  use  of  the  property  for  all  religious  services  or 
ecclesiastical  purposes,  the  trustees  were  under  the  control 
of  the  church  session.  3,  That  by  the  constitution  of  all 
Presbyterian  churches,  the  session,  which  is  the  governing 
body  in  each,  is  composed  of  the  ruling  elders  and  pastor ; 
and  in  all  business  of  the  session  a  majority  of  its  members, 
(present)  "govern;  the  number  of  elders  for  each  congrega- 
tion being  variable." 

"  The  trustees  obviously  hold  possession  for  the  use  of 
persons  who,  by  the  constitution,  usages,  and  laws  of  the  Pres- 
byterian body  are  entitled  to  that  use.  They  are  liable  to 
removal  by  the  congregation  for  whom  they  hold  this  trust ; 
and  others  may  be  substituted  in  their  places.  They  have 
no  personal  ownership  or  right  beyond  this,  and  are  subject, 
in  their  of^cial  relations  to  the  property,  to  the  control  of  the 
session  of  the  church." 

"  The  possession  of  the  elders,  though  accompanied  with 
larger  and  more  efificient  powers  of  control,  is  still  a  fiduciary 
possession.  It  is  as  a  session  of  the  church  alone  that  they 
could  exercise  power.  Except  by  an  order  of  the  session  in 
regular  meeting,  they  have  no  right  to  make  any  order  con- 
cerning the  use  of  the  building;  and  any  action  of  the  session 
is  necessarily  in  the  character  of  representatives  of  the  church 
body  by  whose  members  it  was  elected." 

Upon  the  back  of  the  above  judical  decision  which  was 
made  in  1872,  and  in  accord  with  the  same,  the  general 
assembly  of  1874,  adopted  the  following: 

1.  "  The  constitution  of  our  church  charges  the  session 
with  the  supervision  of  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  all  services  and  matters  pertaining  thereto;  and 


Ii8 

that  any  action,  by  the  board  of  trustees,  nnautJiorirjcd  by 
the  co)igregatio7i,  tending  to  annul  or  contravene  in  any  way 
such  supervision  and  control,  is  illegal  and  void." 

2.  "That  as  regards  the  church  building,  Sabbath- 
school  and  lecture-room,  the  trustees  have  no  right  to  grant 
or  with-hold  the  use  of  either,  against  the  wishes  or  consent 
of  the  session." 

In  1869  the  concurrent  general  assemblies,  old  and  new 
school,  now  become  one,  ordered  that  'Hnipcrfectly  organized 
churches  are  counseled  and  expected  to  become  thoroughly 
Presbyterian,  as  early  within  the  period  of  five  years  as  may 
be  permitted  by  the  highest  interest  to  be  consulted,  and  no 
such  churches  shall  be  hereafter  received." 

a.  The  church  session  consists  of  pastor  and  ruling 
elders. — Digest,  p.  123. 

b.  A  minister  and  two  elders  constitute  a  quorum. 

c.  The  vote  of  the  session  is  the  reception  to  member- 
ship, and  must  involve  baptism. — Digest,  p.  129. 

d.  Members  of  other  evangelical  churches  are  received 
on  certificate.^ — Digest,  p.  130. 

e.  Public  worship — spiritual  affairs. 

1.  "By  our  constitution  (form  of  government,  chap.  9, 
sec.  6,  and  directory  for  worship,  chap.  4,  sec.  4),  the  whole 
internal  arrangement  of  a  church,  as  to  worship  and  order, 
is  committed  to  the  minister  and  sess  on." — Digest,   p.   782. 

2.  The  "delicate  and  important  matter  of  arranging 
and  conducting  the  music  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  for 
edification,"  is  left  "to  each  session." — Digest,  p.  782. 

3.  Directory  for  worship,  (chap.  4,  sec.  4).  "  The  pro- 
portion of  the  time  of  public  w^orship  to  be  spent  in  singing 
is  left  to  the  prudence  of  every  minister;  but  it  is  recom- 
mended that  more  time  be  allowed  for  this  excellent  part  of 
divine  service  than  has  been  usual  in  most  of  our  churches." 

f.  "  The  session  has  no  power  to  prohibit  collections 
ordered  by  the  assembly."— Digest,  p.  131. 

g.  Sabbath  school  and  church. 

The  Sabbath  school  is  "an  important  auxiliary  to  the 
churchin  the  instruction  and  relig'ious  culture  of  licrchildren. 


As  such  it  naturallx'  comes  undcM'  the  direction  of  tlie 
pastor  and  session  of  each  church,  and  the)'  should  ever  be 
recognized  as  its  proper  guardians  and  superiors." 

"Theyha\eno  more  right  to  rehnquish  tliis  solemn  res- 
ponsibilit}'  than  they  have  to  give  up  the  care,  discipline 
and  instruction  of  the  church." 

*'  With  this  obvious  fact  of  the  responsibilities  of  pas- 
tors for  the  children  of  their  churches,  the  general  assembly 
does  hereb}'  set  forth  the  following  principles  as  guides  to 
pastors  and  sessions  in  fulfilling  their  duties  in  respect  to  the 
Sabbath  School  work:" 

1.  "The  pastoral  office  involves  the  practical  super- 
\ision  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  pastor  should  frequently,  if  not  constantly,  be  pres- 
ent to  counsel  and  aid  those  who  may  under  him  be  engaged 
in  the  work  of  instruction." 

2.  "  While  the  Holy  Bible  is  the  great  text-book  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  it  is  eminently  fitting  that  the  summary  of 
Christian  doctrine  as  contained  in  ouradmirable  ShorterCat- 
echism  should  also  be  taught,  and  that  a  lesson  therefrom 
should  be  recited  at  least  once  a  month,  and  that  at  least 
once  in  a  quarter  the  pastor  himself  should  examine  the 
whole  school  therein,  adding  thereto  such  explanations  and 
illustrations  as  may  to  him  seem  proper." 

3.  "The  books  of  the  Sabbath  school  library  should  be 
wholly  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the  pastor  and  ruling 
elders,  and  no  work,  except  it  be  published  by  our  Board  of 
Publication,  shall  be  admitted,  which  they  have  not  ap- 
proved. In  this  examination  care  should  be  taken  that  no 
book  receives  their  sanction  which  might  give  the  minds  of 
children  a  bias  unfavorable  to  the  order,  doctrine  and  prac- 
tices of  our  church,  or  which  might  beget  a  taste  for  friv- 
olous literature,  or  which  does  not  impart  some  weighty 
truth  or  important  information." — Digest,  p.  645. 

BENEVpLENCE. 
"That  so  far  as  practicable  each  church  should  defray 
the  expenses  of  its  own  Sabbath  schools  as  a  part  of   its 


I20 

current  expense,  and  the  children  be  practically  educated  to 
make  their  offerings  directly  and  intelligently  to  the  benev- 
olent work  of  the  church." — G.  A.  Minutes  1887,  p.  122. 

h.  The  moneys  for  the  poor  are  under  the  charge  of 
the  Deacons. 

distinction  lietween  the  church  and  the  society  or 
con(;regation. 

1.  The  "church  consists  of  a  number  of  professing 
Christians  with  their  offspring,  voluntarily  associated  to- 
gether for  divine  worship,  and  godly  living,  agreeably  to  the 
holy  Scriptures;  and  submitting  to  a  certain  form  of  govern- 
ment."— 'Digest,  p.  108. 

2.  The  society  or  congregation,  consists  of  those  and 
their  children,  church  members  or  otherwise,  who  are  stated 
attendants  on  divine  worship,  and  contribute  to  its  support 
according  to  the  customs  or  usages  thereof. 

3.  Those  of  a  matu/e  age,  without  respect  to  sex,  are 
entitled  to  vote  in  their  respective  departments. 

4.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  church  and  session  pertains 
to  the  spiritual  affairs,  including  the  election  of  ciders  and 
deacons  and  management  of  religious  services. 

5.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  society  or  congregation  per- 
tains to  the  temporalities,  including  the  election  of  trustees. 
And  also  the  right  to  vote  on  the  question  of  calling  a  min- 
ister, and  fix  the  amount  of  compensation  to  be  offered  him. 


F. 


ECCLESIASTICAL     COUNCILS 
AND  SUPPLIES. 


COUNCILS. 


The  foUowini^  councils  met  in  Victor,  in  addition  to 
those  ah'eady  mentioned  as  convening"  for  installation,  and 
dissolution  of  pastoral  relation. 

October  7,  1802 
Rev.  Joseph  Grover.   Rev.  James  Hotchkin,   Rev.  Tim- 
othy  Field,   Rev.  Abijah  Warren. 

March  7,  18 10 
Rev.  Oliver  Ayer,  Rev.  Aaron  C.  Collins,    Rev.  Eben 
Norton.  Rev.  Timothy  Buel. 

January  11,    181 1 
Rev.  Howell   V.   Powell,   Rev.  Aaron  C   Collins,    Rev. 
John  Niles,  Deacon  Perinton  Paine,  from  Phelps,  Mr.  Brown, 
from  Elmira. 

June  20,    181 1 
Rev.  Aaron  C.  Collins,  Rev.   Howell   P.   I'owell,   Rev. 
Lyman   Barrett. 

December  15   ,1813 
Rev.  Oliver  Ayer,  Rev,  Aaron,  C.  Collins,  Rev.  Ezekiel 
T.  Chapman,  Rev.  Dennis  O.  Griswold,   Rev.  John  Adams. 
April  6,    1825 
Rev.    John    Taylor,     Rev.     C.    Thorpe.     Rev    Abijah 
Warren. 


t52 

March  13,    1827 
Rev.    John    Taylor,    Rev.    Ebenezer    Raymond,    Rev. 
Avelyn   Sedgwick,   Rev.  John    C.   Whittlesey,  Rev.    James 
Gahoon;  convened  at  residence  of  William  Bushnell, 
A  few  of  the  more  prominent  supplies. 
Rev.    Joseph   Grover,    Rev.    Aaron    C.    Collins,     Rev. 
Oliver  Ayer,  Rev.  Charles  Moshier,  Rev.  Julius.  Steele,  Rev. 
Solomom  Allen,  Rev.  John   Taylor,   Rev.   Ebenezer    Fitch, 

D.  D.,  Rev.  Silas  C.   Brown,   Rev.    Byron    Bosworth,    Rev. 

E.  A.  Piatt,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  G.  Hall,  Rev.  Henry  M.  Morey, 
Rev.  Luther  Concklin,  Rev.  John  E.  Baker,  Rev.  Frede- 
rick H.  Adams,  Rev.  Louis  Bodwell,  Rev.  Joseph  McNulty, 
Rev.  Charles  Kittredge,  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Smith,  Rev.  Walter 
S.  Drysdale,  Rev.  Dr.  Doughal  McColl. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Steele  of  East  Bloomfield,  preached 
occasionally  in  Victor  prior  to  the  organization  of  the 
church. 

Miss  Sarah  F;  Smiley,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Comstock,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  J.  Weaver,  addressed  a  temperance  gathering 
in  the  church  in  1871,  and  subsequently  Miss  Mary  S. 
Knowles. 

These  are  only  some  of  many  whose  presence  have 
added  interest  to  this  pulpit.. 

Most  of  the  above  are  recorded  as  administering  the 
Lord's  Supper.  The  records  in  this,  as  in  many  other 
respects  are  defective  in  interesting  features  peculiar  to 
the  life  of  every  church. 


ERRATA. 


p.     2,  Note,    1798  for  1788. 
p.     6,  line  24,  led  ioY  lead. 
p.    6,     "    28,  after  on  insert  to. 
p.     8,     "     20,  (  "  )  ■A.ilQX  firing. 
p.  20,     "     16,  1799  for  1779. 
P   33'     "      7.  derclfct. 
p.  39,     "       8,  government. 
p.  62,  y.    Truvdnill  for  Triinibell. 
p.  64,  line  I,    1885  for  1880. 

p.  64.  read  Young   People's   Sabbath    Evening   pra}'ei 
meeting  was  rr-established. 
p,  84,  ElipJdia  Beach. 
p.  103,  Harry,  Pi  mm. 
p.  115,  line  4,  annually. 
Other  press  mistakes  are  unimportant. 


